'Tis once again "The Season" of hopefully fun and enjoyable times for you and yours. It´s also the season of non-stop holiday shopping music; which - thankfully, for the most part - comes but once a year.
Most of these holiday songs have been around for a while for the simple reason that they're popular and familiar to most of us - with the added and possibly unconscious realization that after New Year's Day, we likely won't be hearing them for another year.
One of those tunes was actually composed as a light orchestral piece during the heatwave of July, 1948 and makes no reference to the December holiday season.
Most of these holiday songs have been around for a while for the simple reason that they're popular and familiar to most of us - with the added and possibly unconscious realization that after New Year's Day, we likely won't be hearing them for another year.
One of those tunes was actually composed as a light orchestral piece during the heatwave of July, 1948 and makes no reference to the December holiday season.
If you guessed the reference is to "Sleigh Ride" by orchestral composer Leroy Anderson - bingo! It was premiered a year later by Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops Orchestra, for which Anderson was formerly an arranger. Lyricist Mitchell Parish eventually added the words, and it's been a hit that's kept on hittin' ever since - recorded by artists as diverse as Ella Fitzgerald, Bela Fleck and Gwen Stefani, to name just a few.
So, following a tradition started last year at this time, I've posted a recording of "Sleigh Ride" by a mystery tenor saxophonist, with a free, downloadable transcription (links below) of the solo. No detailed analysis is given here, but let me just say that at a tempo of approximately 250 beats per minute, the horse pulling that sleigh sure must be in a hurry to get to Grandma's house! That is where we're going, right?
So, following a tradition started last year at this time, I've posted a recording of "Sleigh Ride" by a mystery tenor saxophonist, with a free, downloadable transcription (links below) of the solo. No detailed analysis is given here, but let me just say that at a tempo of approximately 250 beats per minute, the horse pulling that sleigh sure must be in a hurry to get to Grandma's house! That is where we're going, right?
Listen
Download PDF
Ok, so the mystery man on tenor is me, after all - but you knew that. Once again, the track was from Aebersold Playalong #78, "Jazz Holiday Classics. The "no horsing around" rhythm section is comprised of Andy LaVerne - piano, Lynn Seaton - bass and Steve Davis - drums.
Enjoy! Have a healthy, happy and safe holiday and beyond!
B. Stern
Enjoy! Have a healthy, happy and safe holiday and beyond!
B. Stern
Solo Transcriptions & Etudes are a fun and entertaining way to study tunes!
Create your own amazing musical lines! The following Shortbooks™ break it down and show you how. Add them to your library!
ALWAYS ON SALE!!
Available for immediate download!
Create your own amazing musical lines! The following Shortbooks™ break it down and show you how. Add them to your library!
ALWAYS ON SALE!!
Available for immediate download!
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