Composer
Arranger
Socrates Garcia
Category
Big Band
Level
Medium Advanced
Style
Merengue-Jazz
Ranges
Duration
09:15
Description
Movement I
Inspired by merengue-jazz virtuoso saxophonist Tavito Vasquez (1928-1995), Homage is rooted on the Dominican merengue genre. It’s written for full big band and Dominican percussion (tambora and güira). The drum set part includes an optional version (with and without the percussion). Characteristic of the genre, it features a sax soli based on a live recording by Vasquez on Pipí Franco’s tune “Arroyito Cristalino.” By unanimous consensus among Dominican jazz connoisseurs, Vásquez is the most significant innovator, a player that masterfully blended the bebop nuances onto the merengue tradition, making it sound like one single style. Homage to Tavito follows the merengue tradition navigating from an older style known as “pambiche” to “merengue derecho.” A great piece to feature an advanced saxophone section along with Caribbean flavors from Dominican Republic.
Instrumentation
(5/4/4/4)