Sy Johnson and the Journey of a Jazz Arrangement – Chapter 2, "Farewell Farwell" — Mingus Big Band

Mingus arranger Sy Johnson provides an in-depth look at the process of crafting an arrangement for Mingus Big Band. This video is an excerpt from Johnson's masterclass at the 2021 Charles Mingus Festival, detailing the writing process behind four of his newest arrangements. This segment focuses on "Farewell Farwell," from the album The Charles Mingus Centennial Sessions, Vol. 2, available now on Candid Records. The composition was written in tribute to Mingus' longtime friend, painter Farwell Taylor.

🎶 Listen to Volume 2 here: https://mingusbigband.lnk.to/centenni...

00:00 Introduction, getting started, inspiration
00:58 Melody treatment, 'A' sections, incorporating trombones from intro
02:11 Treatment of the bridge, trombones taking the lead, writing for specific musicians rather than instruments
04:00 Handing off melody to fuller ensemble, last 'A' of melody
05:00 Audio preview of arrangement

[Note: a fourth trumpet part was added during the recording session. This change is not reflected in the score, but the part doubles the Alto 1 solo throughout]

Sy Johnson (April 15, 1930 – July 26, 2022) was an arranger, composer, pianist, singer, educator, and photographer who worked with such legendary artists as Lee Konitz, Quincy Jones, Joe Williams, Frank Sinatra, Count Basie, and Elvis Costello. Johnson is most widely-known for his close association with bassist and composer Charles Mingus during the 1970s, beginning with the album Let My Children Hear Music. After Mingus' death, Johnson continued as one of the chief arrangers for the Mingus repertory ensembles directed by Sue Mingus, beginning with Mingus Dynasty in 1979, Mingus Big Band in 1988, and Mingus Orchestra in 1999. Johnson also helped produce a "Simply Mingus" series of arrangements with Sue Mingus and the Hal Leonard Corporation, aiming to make Mingus' music more accessible for developing young musicians. In January 2020, Mingus Big Band recorded 22 new arrangements of Mingus compositions, including 10 by Johnson. The music has now been released as a series of albums titled The Charles Mingus Centennial Sessions, the first volume of which was nominated for a GRAMMY. Johnson is also the author of a photography book, titled "Jazz – Personal Encounters Photographed by Sy Johnson."

📚 Read "Jazz – Personal Encounters" here: https://www.blurb.com/b/5650078-jazz-...

Please visit http://CharlesMingus.com for more about Charles Mingus, his life, his music, and how Jazz Workshop, Inc., Let My Children Hear Music, and the Mingus repertory bands continue to honor the Mingus legacy.

  / charlesmingusofficial  
  / charlesmingus  
http://charlesmingus.com
https://candidrecords.shop.musictoday...


Cover photo: Gulnara Khamatova
Concept, interview, video editing: Theodore Davis