It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) by Duke Ellington Jazz Ensemble - Digital Sheet Music

SKU: A0.734676

Jazz combo arrangement for Trumpet, Alto Sax, Trombone and Rhythm Section (Guitar, Piano, Bass, and Drums). Comes with alternate or substitute parts so that you can use another Trumpet (or Clarinet) in place of Alto Sax, or Tenor Sax in place of Trombone. Includes a full score and all parts. "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" is a 1931 Duke Ellington composition now accepted as a jazz standard. The music was written and arranged by Ellington in August 1931 during intermissions at Chicago's Lincoln Tavern and was first recorded by Ellington and his orchestra on February 2, 1932. The song became famous, Ellington wrote, "as the expression of a sentiment which prevailed among jazz musicians at the time." Probably the first song to use the phrase "swing" in the title, it introduced the term into everyday language and presaged the swing era by three years. The Ellington band played the song continually over the years and recorded it numerous times, most often with trumpeter Ray Nance as vocalist.