“Frosty The Snowman” Returns … Finally Completed This Time!! (Jazz)

[Plowking]

That's a great demo for JABB is ever I heard one.

Great arrangement - very complex sounding and full of neat little touches.

The only critisim I can think up is the very start when the melody starts playing - I didn't like how naked it sounded (clarinet?) without a harmony for the first few notes, once past that it was all fantastic. Also sounds, maybe, like an unintentional double note in the piano at 1:46 / 1:47 - but could be just me!

[Frank D]

Hi Foss,

Okay, this is fun!

Thanks for the comment ... having a fun, loose, romp was paramount in approaching this tune; glad I conveyed that to you!

Best regards,

Frank

[Frank D]

Hi Phil,

Frank, you sure wrung a lot of great jazz out of that tune. Good time music! I particularly enjoyed the bass lines.

I can definitely see this being performed.

Frost originally came to a sad end but I think more current thinking is that he now lives with Santa Claus at the north pole most of the year.

Great work!

Phil

Hi Phil,

So sorry for not responding FOREVER!! Actually will look forward to this falling off the page again so I can finally post something else .

Thanks for your kind words, Phil. I always loved this tune ... the story is child-like, yet very adult, all at the same time ... I really wanted to represent Frosty as a cat who knows how to have a good time ... knows how to wreck havoc and get mischeivious ... knowing just how limited his time will be!

As far as the bass line, I usually start by just comping some basic harmony with a piano track w/ click, then add a rough bass track that may or may not match my piano voicings (I.E., piano is playing Cm9, but bass is hitting the Maj7 ... oops/clash!). Then I go back and try and make those two tracks interesting, and of course, get them on the same page harmony-wise (like that piano Cm9 becomes a Cm9(Ma7) to match the more interesting bass line). It's only after this piano/bass marraige is finalized that I can then procede to writing the various wind lines.

For my jazz arrangements, I always try and create something that sounds like real cats blowing it ... they are in my head while I create it anyway!

I guess I'm a purist w/ Frosty ... I like that he melts away, making the last line he sings both optimistic and poigniant: "I'll be back a-gin some-day ..."

Best regards,

Frank

[Frank D]

Hi Norman,

I really enjoyed it.

With my earphones I can easily follow every instrument and still get well blended chords. It is a great piece to listen to multiple times for the details as well as the overall effect.

Thanks for sharing.

Norman Nelson

Thank you so much for your very kind words, Norman. I try and make each part plausible and force myself to think in a linear fashion, the way a wind player would if performing this chart. He/she's not thinking so much of the vertical aspects of the lines, so I try and serve both masters when I deal w/ chords/harmony. I appreciate that you feel it has enough detail to give multiple listens to.

Best regards!

Frank

[Frank D]

Hi Graham,

That's a great demo for JABB is ever I heard one.

Great arrangement - very complex sounding and full of neat little touches.

The only critisim I can think up is the very start when the melody starts playing - I didn't like how naked it sounded (clarinet?) without a harmony for the first few notes, once past that it was all fantastic. Also sounds, maybe, like an unintentional double note in the piano at 1:46 / 1:47 - but could be just me!

Thanks for listening and taking the time to comment ... glad you enjoyed it and thanks for the kind words!

I guess it's the old "One mans cup of tea is another man's poisin!" I had so much harmonized writing in this arrangement, I purposely wanted it to start-out thin and then gradually thicken the lines. The opening melody line is actually a 4-measure multiple unison of soprano sax, flute, alto flute, clarinet, cup-muted trumpet, and flugelhorn. When it's answered with the 4-measure responses (where it breaks into harmony), a bass clarinet, harmon-muted trumpet, and cup-muted tenor and bass trombones are added. Possibly the multiple unison is TOO homoginous, making it sound too thin. But thanks for your perspective on this aspect!

I think the double note is part of a would-be trill that was lost in translation (or my mix!)

Best regards,

Frank

[sanyarem]

Hello Frank! I'm glad I listened to this! Though it may be well past Christmas, it is still winter (despite the unusual lack of snow here in Indiana), and this is wonderful! This is a great arrangement and a great recording! There's something about big band (big or small) Christmas music that always sparks images in me of warm fireplaces and twilit windows with snow lazily drifting to the ground, and this brought those images immediately. Thanks so much for sharing, and glad to hear about your wonderful year. Glad to see you back!

[Frank D]

Hey Michael,

Hello Frank! I'm glad I listened to this! Though it may be well past Christmas, it is still winter (despite the unusual lack of snow here in Indiana), and this is wonderful! This is a great arrangement and a great recording! There's something about big band (big or small) Christmas music that always sparks images in me of warm fireplaces and twilit windows with snow lazily drifting to the ground, and this brought those images immediately. Thanks so much for sharing, and glad to hear about your wonderful year. Glad to see you back!

Thanks so much for giving 'Frosty' a listen and taking the time to comment ... much appreciated. Yeah, we had 32" of snow by this time last Winter ... my back's not complaining though!

I've been experimenting a little with 'lightening up' the more traditional jazz BB, although for my money, I find it easier writing for the standard 5-reeds, 4 trumpet, 4 trombone + rhythm section ensemble. I did learn a lot this year writing for the virtual pit in our church musical, which pretty much matches this slightly reduced orchestration. I love your percussion ensemble and would like to explore adding more percussion to jazz ensemble arrangments ... ahhhh, all ya need is endless time, right?

Thank you for the kind words and support and glad Frosty evoked some fun, Wintery images for you!

Best regards,

Frank