Swinging all the way is a jazzy take on the most well known of Christmas tunes, Jingle Bells. We begin in a dark underground jazz club with the rich, luscious harmonies supporting the tune that we all know. But the melody is perhaps secondary to the timbres and dissonances of this darkly elegant ballad punctuated by the solo cornet, a contrast of styles between the joyous melody and sober accompaniment. As the work progresses it becomes more uplifting, with solo features from the trombone, before emerging into the bright lights of a big band set, with stride bass, crunchy punctuating rhythms and screaming trumpets. The arrangement ends where we began, after our exciting sleigh ride comes to an end.

Instrumentation:

Soprano Cornet Eb - Solo Cornet Bb - Repiano Cornet Bb - 2nd Cornet Bb - 3rd Cornet Bb - Flugel Horn Bb - Solo Horn Eb - 1st Horn Eb - 2nd Horn Eb - 1st Baritone Bb - 2nd Baritone Bb - 1st Trombone Bb - 2nd Trombone Bb - Bass Trombone - Euphonium Bb - Bass Eb - Bass Bb - Timpani/Sus. Cymbal - Drum Kit - Vibraphone/Xylophone