Jazz Ensemble Jazz Ensemble - Level 3 - Digital Download
SKU: A0.955738
By Sarah Vaughan. By Clyde Otis and Murray Stein. Arranged by Phil Thrift. Jazz. Score and Parts. 48 pages. Phil Thrift #6062351. Published by Phil Thrift (A0.955738).
When my friend Werner told me to listen to Smooth Operator, I thought he meant the well-known mid-80s smooth jazz number by the British band Sade. Instead, I got a surprise. This Smooth Operator was totally different, totally unknown to me, and provoked me to find out about Dorothy Dandridge and her life. I encourage you to do so too.
The album Smooth Operator was released in 1999. However, Dorothy Dandridge had recorded this song nearly 40 years earlier, in February 1961, with – according to the sleeve notes from Verve Records – an unknown orchestra and unknown producer. The arranger of the band charts is also not credited. It seems there was just one take, because when Ms. Dandridge enters at the pickup to measure 5, it takes the rhythm section a few beats to fall into line with her; one trumpet also enters too early in measure 74! Notwithstanding, this is an amazing, very cool number, and if your female vocalist feels up to the challenge of these cheeky, risqué lyrics, then these easy charts will enable your big band to recreate the piece.
Although the style is dated and recalls a bygone era, I feel this song is a good way to remember this brilliant actress, singer, and dancer who died so young, and draw attention to the injustices she suffered and which are still with us today. The tagline to the film of her life starring Halle Berry sums up her life: Right woman. Right place. Wrong time.
