La Cumparsita by Donna Lee Saxophone Quartet is a tango written in 1916 by the Uruguayan musician Gerardo Matos Rodríguez, with lyrics by Pascual Contursi and Enrique Pedro Maroni. It was premiered publicly in the old Café La Giralda in Montevideo and it is one of the most famous tangos of all time. It was first recorded by Roberto Firpo in November 1916 for Odeon Records. The song was named the cultural and popular anthem of Uruguay by law in 1997. Continue reading
The First Noel by Zdenko Ivanušić, this is a famous traditional English Christmas Carol. This song is arranged for electric piano, alto or tenor saxophone and string orchestra with optional flute and glockenspiel. Mixing and mastering is done by Krešimir Petar Pustički, viola player and professor at Zagreb Music Academy, also an extraordinary sound engineer. Continue reading
Down by the Riverside by Donna Lee Saxophone Quartet is a well-known African-American spiritual. Its roots date back to before the American Civil War, though it was first published in 1918 in Plantation Melodies: A Collection of Modern, Popular and Old-time Negro-Songs of the Southland. The song refers to biblical imagery such as baptism (white robe), the River Jordan, Jesus (Prince of Peace) and heaven (road to heaven). Continue reading
Mother Popcorn (You Got to Have a Mother for Me) by Funk Elastic feat. Nikola Marjanović is a song written by James Brown and Alfred “Pee Wee” Ellis, recorded by James Brown Orchestra and released as a two-part single in 1969. Mother Popcorn (You Got to Have a Mother for Me) has a groove and structure similar to Cold Sweat, but a faster tempo and a greater amount of rhythmic activity give it a more funkier quality than the earlier song. Continue reading
The Pink Panther Theme is a jazz composition by Henry Mancini written as the theme song for the 1963 film The Pink Panther and subsequently nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Score at the 37th Academy Awards. This song has been covered and rearranged numerous times.
Donna Lee Saxophone Quartet’s version Continue reading
Mercy, Mercy, Mercy is a jazz song written by Joe Zawinul in 1966 for Cannonball Adderley and it appears on his Mercy, Mercy, Mercy! Live at “The Club” album. The song is the title track of the album and became a surprise hit in February 1967. Mercy, Mercy, Mercy has been covered numerous times.
Mercy, Mercy, Mercy by Joe Zawinul is available Continue reading
Maceo Parker alto saxophone solo transcription on Cold Sweat by James Brown & Alfred “Pee Wee” Ellis from Soundtrack album (Minor Music 1994). This take was recorded during live concerts at Fabrik in Hamburg, Germany on April 12, 13, & 14, 1994. Continue reading
Lost In HTML (reissue) is available at online music stores, check out the most popular at Zivaldo Music. This is a reissue that differs a little from the original album release, which is not available in stores anymore.
Those songs and arrangements are shared for free at the downloads page. Continue reading
More Four by Donna Lee Saxophone Quartet, this is an EP (extended play) of four songs which were originally released on the Four Odd (2005) album.
More Four by Donna Lee Saxophone Quartet is available at online music stores, check out the most popular at Zivaldo Music. It might not be available at some stores and territories. Continue reading
Besame Mucho by Funk Elastic, (Kiss Me a Lot in English translation) is a famous bolero written in 1940 by Mexican songwriter Consuelo Velázquez. It is considered to be one of the most popular songs of the 20th century and one of the most important songs in the history of Latin music. This arrangement is based on Artie Shaw‘s version from 1953 and is more on the cha-cha groove side. The featuring solos are on tenor saxophone and piano. Continue reading