The Bill Potts Series

Big Swing Face - Bill Potts - Grade 4 - SMP 240 - $52.00

This is the "real thing", as written for and recorded by the Buddy Rich Band on the "Big Swing Face" CD. It is a medium-up swing chart that provides plenty of solo space for alto sax (al la Ernie Watts), piano (a la Ray Starling) and trumpet (a la Bobby Shew). Features a terrific saxophone section soli. Buddy's band played this one a lot! Big Band Swing at its best! 5-4-4-4 (on demo CD 111)

I Got Plenty O' Nuttin' - Gershwin / arr. by Bill Potts - Grade 4-5  - SMP 920 - $57.00
If you know the marvelous 1959 recording "The Jazz Soul of Porgy & Bess", as recorded by the Bill Potts Big Band (Phil Woods, Zoot Sims, "Sweets" Edison, Art Farmer, Bob Brookmeyer, Bill Evans and others), then you know this music.  If not, you will surely fall in love with this chart.  This swinging chart features the saxophone section and a trumpet solo.  5-5-5-4

It Ain't Necessarily So - Gershwin / arr. by Bill Potts - Grade 4-5 - SMP 924 - $57.00
If you know the marvelous 1959 recording "The Jazz Soul of Porgy & Bess" as recorded by the Bill Potts Big Band (Phil Woods, Zoot Sims, "Sweets" Edison, Art Farmer, Bob Brookmeyer, Bill Evans and others), then you know this music.  If not, you will surely fall in love with this chart.  This swinging chart features the saxophone section and a trumpet solo.  5-5-5-4 (can be played by only 8 brass) (on demo CD 115)

My Man's Gone Now - Gershwin / arr. by Bill Potts - Grade 4 - SMP 923 - $47.00
This is surely one of Gershwin's most beautiful melodies, and Potts arranged it to feature trumpet throughout (as recorded on the 1959 album "The Jazz Soul of Porgy & Bess", featuring the Bill Potts Big Band) .  Lush orchestration, rich harmonies, reasonable ranges and a touching ending make this chart a great choice for festival programming.  This should be in every big band book.  5-5-5-4

Oh Lawd, I'm On My Way  - Gershwin / arr. by Bill Potts - Grade 5 - SMP 921 - $62.00
The quintessential Flag-Waver (as recorded on the 1959 album "The Jazz Soul of Porgy & Bess", featuring the Bill Potts Big Band), this one is a real romp through a happy tune and a brilliant chart, arranged to feature everyone in the band. Some only have 4 bars, others have more blowing space, but everyone gets their chance in the spotlight.  Great fun, great music and a great chart!   5-5-5-4

Porgy & Bess - Medley - arr. Bill Potts - Grade 3/4 - SMP 926 - $67.00
Bill Potts' arrangements for the recording "The Jazz Soul of Porgy & Bess" are legendary.  This medley is one of those charts, and it includes 5 different themes from Gershwin's masterpiece.  There is space for solos for alto and tenor saxophone, 2 trumpets, trombone, piano and drums.  This is a lovely, peaceful setting of these themes, with very limited brass ranges (1 high C in the tpt. 1 part). This should be playable by most bands.  This is a chart with great musical value and no endurance demands on anyone. 5.4.4.4 (opt. 10 brass parts) (on demo CD 116)

Summertime - Gershwin / arr. by Bill Potts - Grade 4-5 - SMP 922 - $62.00
This is the Opener on the 1959 "The Jazz Soul of Porgy & Bess" album, and it is a great opener for any live concert as well.  It is an up-tempo, swinging version of Gershwin's tune.  Potts is a master arranger, and he brought it all to this chart.  Solo space for trumpet  and tenor saxophone.  Use this to start your concerts, and you'll never regret it.           5-5-5-4

There's a Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon for New York - Gershwin / arr. by Bill Potts - Grade 4-5 - SMP 925  - $67.00
As recorded on the album "The Jazz Soul of Porgy & Bess" (featuring the Bill Potts Big Band), this chart swings hard, but it isn't hard to play.   Bill arranged this in a wonderful contrapuntal fashion.  He also chose to feature alto, tenor, trumpet, piano and drum solos.   This arrangement should be in all big band books. 5-5-5-4 (can be played by only 8 brass)  (on demo CD 115)