Misty by Johnny Mathis Saxophone Quartet - Digital Sheet Music

SKU: A0.899864

Genre: Jazz

Length: 4:15

Instrumentation: Saxophone Quartet (SATB)

Misty was composed as an instrumental work in 1954 by the pianist Erroll Garner. It was first recorded for Garner's 1955 album Contrasts and was later paired with lyrics by Johnny Burke. Misty was adapted by Johnny Mathis and soon became his signature song. The chart appeared on his 1959 album Heavenly and reached number 12 on the U.S. Pop Singles chart later that year. The Mathis version of ­Misty inspired Clint Eastwood’s 1971 motion picture Play Misty for Me, a low-budget film that proved to be a huge box-office success.

The Composer:

Erroll Louis Garner (June 15, 1923 - January 2, 1977) was an American jazz pianist and composer. Jazz writer Scott Yanow called Erroll "one of the most distinctive of all pianists". Garner had a unique style and could swing like no other, but some of his best recordings are ballads such as his best-known composition Misty. Misty, rapidly became a jazz standard and was featured in Clint Eastwood's film Play Misty for Me (1971).

The Arranger:

Email: [email protected]

Alex Burden is a Florida born musician and music educator residing in Southwest Florida. There, he teaches band, guitar and music theory at LaBelle High School. LaBelle’s thriving jazz, concert and marching bands consistently receive the highest marks at Contest and the LHS Cowboy Band has received numerous awards under Mr. Burden’s direction, including three consecutive Grand Champion Awards at the High Noon Tournament of Bands (formerly the Heartland Marching Festival). Mr. Burden’s ensembles have performed and received “Gold” ratings at national band festivals including the 2024 Atlanta Heritage Festival and the 2025 Nashville Festival of Gold. Concurrent with his duties at LHS, he also teaches private instrumental music lessons, performs with various ensembles and is a sought after band clinician and adjudicator. He is a member of the Florida Bandmasters Association, the Florida Music Education Association, the National Association for Music Education and the North American Saxophone Alliance. Burden holds degrees from the Bower School of Music and Eastern Florida State where he studied under world renowned saxophonists Mario Bernardo and James Bishop. During his time at the Bower School of music, he served as principle saxophonist in the FGCU Wind Orchestra, lead alto in the Jazz Band Flight: Jazz at FGCU, and played soprano saxophone in the Bower Saxophone Quartet. Alexander was selected to play tenor saxophone in the 2017 National Intercollegiate Band as well as principle alto saxophone in the 2017 Florida All-State Intercollegiate Band and tenor saxophone in the 2016 Florida All-State Intercollegiate Band. In November of 2015, Alexander participated in a critically acclaimed performance at Carnegie Hall in New York City with the FGCU Wind Orchestra.