THREE JAZZ SAXOPHONE QUINTETS
1997

Over the years, I have arranged many jazz standards for saxophone groups, meeting the demand for fresh material ahead of upcoming jazz gigs. Among them, these three quintets remain particularly fine examples, consistently favored by both musicians and audiences: - Autumn Leaves – Jonny Mercer - Misty – Errol Garner - A Night in Tunisia – Dizzy Gillespie Each arrangement follows a core structure, featuring the soprano or alto sax on melody and solos, while the remaining saxes provide a predominantly homophonic accompaniment, enriching the harmonic texture. While initially based on the chords outlined in the Real Book, I frequently substituted harmonies where I felt they would enhance the musical flow. Throughout the rehearsal and performance process, each player worked from their own transposed part, with the full concert pitch score prepared solely for reference and presentation. In the score, I intentionally marked minimal dynamics and phrasing for the solo sections, ensuring musicians had the freedom to interpret and shape the music spontaneously—honoring the spirit of jazz improvisation.