Take The 'A' Train (D.Tanner)

Billy Strayhorn’s timeless anthem "Take The 'A' Train," famously recorded by the Duke Ellington Orchestra in 1941, stands as one of the definitive masterpieces of the big band era. Originally penned as a set of directions to get to Harlem via the subway, the tune quickly evolved into Ellington’s signature theme song, capturing the sophisticated pulse, urban dynamism, and swinging elegance of mid-century jazz. Its ingenious economy of motif, combined with Strayhorn’s lush harmonic underpinnings, has cemented its status as an enduring jazz standard studied and performed across the globe. Swinging at a bright, infectious medium-up tempo, this contemporary treatment radiates vibrant energy while maintaining the sophisticated swagger inherent to the Ellington idiom. The arrangement opens with the iconic, cascading whole-tone motif before launching into a robust, driving 4/4 swing feel. The mood is celebratory, buoyant, and deeply sophisticated, evoking the bustling atmosphere of a midnight express hurtling through Manhattan. Richly textured brass voicings and interlocking woodwind counterlines create a dense, colorful sonic landscape that feels both nostalgic and refreshingly modern. Arranger Dave Tanner injects fresh vitality into the classic chart by employing contemporary harmonic extensions, clever metric modulations, and tightly woven sax solis that pay homage to the original Jimmy Hamilton and Johnny Hodges lineages while pushing the harmonic envelope. Tanner balances transparent, rhythmically charged ensemble passages with thunderous tutti shout choruses that build in intensity. The arrangement cleverly redistributes thematic material across the entire big band, avoiding predictable scoring by letting lower voices—particularly the baritone saxophone and bass trombone—drive the rhythmic foundation beneath upper-structure triad harmonies in the trumpets. Melodic duties are shared dynamically between the lead alto saxophone and the full brass section, while featured solo space provides an ideal vehicle for a proficient tenor saxophonist and trumpeter to stretch out over standard blues-inflected changes. Technical challenges center primarily on maintaining absolute precision during rapid swing eighth-note passages, executing crisp articulation in the brass section, and balancing the intricate dynamic shifts within dense chordal clusters. Advanced high school ensembles, collegiate jazz orchestras, and professional community big bands will find this chart deeply rewarding, as it demands rigorous listening across sections while offering an immediate, crowd-pleasing payoff that highlights both ensemble tightness and individual improvisational flair. Conductors should anchor this arrangement at a brisk, driving swing tempo around 180 to 192 BPM, ensuring the rhythm section maintains a feather-light ride cymbal pattern that propels the band without dragging. The primary technical hurdle lies in the precise execution of the syncopated ensemble shout choruses; musicians must treat dotted-quarter and eighth-note figures with extreme articulation uniformity, avoiding heavy accents on weak beats. Brass players should utilize subtle cup mutes or open horns with careful attention to dynamic tapering during the background figures behind the soloists. Rehearsal time should be heavily invested in the sax soli, ensuring that internal balances highlight the lead alto while the lower voices lock cleanly into the rhythm section's hi-hat on beats two and four. Encourage the rhythm section to study classic Ellington recordings—specifically the interplay between Duke's sparse piano voicings and Sonny Greer's crisp drumming—to capture the authentic stylistic bounce essential for this chart's success. Q: What instruments and parts are included in this big band arrangement? A: The 18-page score and parts accommodate a standard 17-instrument big band instrumentation, featuring a full saxophone section (2 altos, 2 tenors, 1 baritone), standard brass (trumpets and trombones), and a complete rhythm section. Q: What is the difficulty level of Dave Tanner's arrangement of "Take The 'A' Train"? A: This chart is graded as advanced-intermediate to advanced, making it best suited for accomplished high school jazz bands, collegiate ensembles, and professional community big bands with strong section players. Q: How does this arrangement relate to the historical Billy Strayhorn and Duke Ellington version? A: While retaining the iconic melodic motifs and swinging character of the 1941 original, Tanner's arrangement introduces contemporary harmonic voicings, fresh counterlines, and expanded ensemble textures that modernize the classic chart. Q: What makes this specific arrangement by Dave Tanner unique? A: Tanner's distinct approach highlights clever internal voice-leading, dynamic redistribution of the melody across unconventional sections, and high-energy shout choruses that challenge the ensemble's rhythmic cohesion and dynamic control. Q: What is the performance duration and recommended tempo for this piece? A: The arrangement runs approximately 3.5 to 4 minutes when performed at the recommended bright medium-swing tempo of roughly 184 BPM.