Undecided (G.Osser)

Sidney Lippman and Charlie Shavers crafted "Undecided" in 1938, a timeless contribution to the Great American Songbook that quickly transitioned from a popular tune into an essential swing-era jazz standard. While famously recorded by Chick Webb and his Orchestra featuring Ella Fitzgerald, the composition's infectious rhythm changes and clever melodic hooks have made it a vehicle for countless instrumentalists across generations. This enduring appeal lies in its brilliant structural balance, offering a welcoming framework for collective swing interaction while retaining enough harmonic sophistication to challenge evolving improvisers. Glenn Osser’s masterful big band arrangement captures the quintessential vibrancy of the mid-century swing tradition, propelled by an upbeat, driving medium-swing groove in 4/4 time. Radiating high energy and effervescent optimism, the chart opens with a sparkling tutti statement before seamlessly integrating the vocal lead. The arrangement evokes the polished, sophisticated glamour of late-1930s and 1940s ballroom culture, balancing tight, sophisticated ensemble writing with breezy, danceable momentum. The harmonic landscape remains faithful to the swinging aesthetic while utilizing clever chromatic passing tones and crisp dynamic shifts to keep performers and audiences thoroughly engaged from the downbeat. Osser approaches the orchestration with a signature commercial elegance, favoring rich, transparent brass voicings and lush reed solis that prioritize clarity and balance. The arrangement showcases classic big band mechanics, distributing melodic responsibility dynamically between the vocal soloist and the surrounding horn sections. A tightly knit saxophone soli anchors the middle register, leading organically into a textbook, high-voltage shout chorus that builds maximum theatrical impact without muddying the texture. The arrangement allows ample room for a featured instrumental solo—typically trading off structural phrases—before driving toward a definitive, brass-punctuated finale. Advanced high school, collegiate, and professional community big bands will find this chart to be an exceptional programming choice that bridges crowd-pleasing accessibility with rewarding technical demands. The primary challenges lie in maintaining a precise, lightweight swing eighth-note articulation at a brisk tempo and achieving flawless intonation within the tight sectional harmonies. Players will relish the idiomatic writing that sits comfortably on their instruments while demanding sharp rhythmic precision, making it an absolute standout for festival performances, gala concerts, or classic swing-era themed sets. The primary technical challenge in executing Glenn Osser’s arrangement of "Undecided" lies in maintaining a buoyant, synchronized swing feel across all sections at a brisk, danceable tempo. Conductors must ensure that the rhythm section—particularly the drummer on the ride cymbal and hi-hat on beats two and four—establishes a driving, unhurried pulse that anchors the ensemble without rushing. Horn players should focus on uniform short articulations on offbeat figures, avoiding heavy tongue-strokes that can bog down the forward momentum. Pay close attention to dynamic contrast during the transitional passages leading into the shout chorus; the brass must balance power with absolute control to avoid overpowering the vocal line or reed soli. Rehearsals should initially focus on sectional isolation of the syncopated figures in the middle 8, ensuring the entire band locks into the underlying harmonic shifts before merging back into full ensemble runs. Q: What instruments and parts are included in this arrangement? A: This 38-page publication features a comprehensive 18-instrument big band instrumentation, which includes a vocal part, Alto Saxophone 1, Alto Saxophone 3, Tenor Saxophone 2, Tenor Saxophone 4, alongside standard big band brass and rhythm section parts, complete with a dedicated conductor score. Q: What is the difficulty level of this Glenn Osser chart? A: This arrangement is ideally suited for advanced high school, collegiate, and professional community big bands, requiring strong section playing, tight rhythmic precision, and a solid grasp of medium-tempo swing articulation. Q: What is the historical style and context of "Undecided"? A: Originally composed by Sidney Lippman in 1938 and famously popularized by Chick Webb and Ella Fitzgerald, this piece represents the pinnacle of the swing era, functioning as both a celebrated vocal vehicle and an essential jazz standard. Q: What makes this specific arrangement by Glenn Osser unique? A: Osser’s treatment stands out for its signature commercial elegance, featuring transparent horn voicings, a sophisticated reed soli, and a classic, high-energy shout chorus that captures the polished sound of mid-century radio and ballroom orchestras. Q: What is the recommended performance tempo and duration for this piece? A: The arrangement is set to a bright, driving medium-swing tempo in 4/4 time, typically resulting in a performance duration of approximately 3 to 4 minutes depending on the length of the improvised solos.