Your students can sound like the great Count Basie Band in a short amount of rehearsal time with this very easy swinger. Range demands are low with the lead trumpet going only to a 3rd space C and lead bone to a D. The chart is scored to work for three saxes and four brass. Check out the performance notes for exact instrumentation.

Count Basie’s arrangers would often take a minimalist approach to their writing. The essential elements were a riff-based melody and a shout chorus interspersed with creative soloists. Back Bay Breeze makes use of that formula in an easygoing happily swinging way. A shout chorus with a Basie-style tag makes the perfect ending to this gem from Bryan Kidd former chief arranger with the D.C. Navy Band.

Premiered at the 2005 Michigan Music Educaotrs Conference Escapades was commissioned by the Grand Valley State University Symphonic Wind Ensemble under the baton of Barry D. Martin with Arthur Campbell as clarinet soloist. Since the premiere it has been scheduled for additional performances in the United States and abroad. The piece gets its inspiration from the title which can be defined as 'a usually adventurous action that runs counter to approved or conventional conduct.' This piece is a series of changing 'escapades' (or variations) which develop and explore different aspects of the opening thematic material. The entire work builds into a free improvisational section beforeall elements of are united in the final presto of the composition (10:00)

Featuring a Basie-style piano part that's written out on the opening chorus this blues settles into a very nice groove with the saxes featured much of the time. None of the parts are overly demanding and the ranges are very comfortable. An excellent blues recipe!