It Don't Mean a Thing-Big Friendly Jazz Orchestra

[ItsSwattyV2]

1:30 - 1:58 i play my trumpet just like that :D (not the notes obviously) but im not to bad :P my band director says you have to play it straight, id like to him say it that girl. doesent matter how u play it when ur that beast. look at dizzie :D

[jkira69]

damn im jealous. My highschool band is 2nd place in state. but this is like whole world.

[MrBmoon7]

amazing talent! THATS music DONE RIGHT!!!

[Zeecarver]

how they playing at this tempo.

damn! too good

[kobeakashi123]

I like this performance best in all the BFJO plays on the You Tube. I love the bari solo girl, because I once played bari and couldn't played like her.

[bobburford]

ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!!! What else is there to say?

[britheath]

they are awesome....... and its amazing they are so young....dont be fooled just because they aint smiling doesnt mean they arent enjoying themselves..Japanese are shy to show emotion.like to play it cool...love this Vid

[ToweringInfernoOrch]

one of my favorite bands on youtube!!! Really great treatment of dynamics!!!

[freighter014]

lol they're all probably playing yamahas or yanagisawas... which are great horns. :)

[Bonny230]

oh my golly gosh...

absolutely amazing :)

[Jeros0192]

Very nicely done, i like all your videos. Btw who arranged this piece? would like to get my hands on this song.

[flowermawi]

@Jeros0192 I know a great version by Michael Sweeny!

[monkeyboy2234]

Psh whatever freshman band been there done that ....reps from Breck!!!

[soul05]

wow! amazing they are only high school kids

[LibertangoVieenrose]

great playing - congratulations to all members and leader.

[EternalZone]

Their performance is great, but when it comes to improvisation, you can see they have to work on that. Tone is not always good, and a bit more variation during the improvisation wil sound much better.

[poobert]

We even started to read and write! One day we will be captains of industry too.

[RATASSS]

im sure about that,here in Spain they got most of the grocery stores through triads and family money,im sure my grandson will have to learn mandarin,i like the yankees more.

[mikeg139]

"Chinks" are from China. This is from Japan. A "Gook" is any Asian. You're too f*cking stupid to even be a good bigot.

[RATASSS]

WHO CARES THEY ALL LOOK THE SAME TO ME.

[metafreak20]

can anybody please tell me who arranged this version of the song?

i know the composer is duke ellington

[bergkampista]

The arranger is Kenichi Tsunoda, a Japanese trombone player/band leader.

His CD including this one is;

"BIG SWING" Kenichi Tsunoda Big Band (Sea Breeze Jazz SB-2120)

"La Fiesta", "A Night in Tunisia", "Waltz for Debby" are also played in the CD.

[SvenHild]

of course they are great! but they have no feeling for the music! like all asian people. maybe they are the greatest technicians but noch the greatest musicians. face it!

[tablloyd5]

Wonderful introduction, you're swinging on the take off. Great job.

[VolkswagenNut1969]

My dad was a jazz musician for 50 years, and he performed in Japan in the early-mid 50s. He said his band and the Japanese bands, many with teenage players, talked all night about big names like Charlie Parker and the concepts and origins of the music, etc. So yes, they understand the music perfectly. This group is just awesome, especially for High School.

[nw787]

Hey, I think you guys are a bit harsh. If I got it right, these are only high school juniors from a Japanese high school who's been playing together for two years. It's all girls because big band jazz is not a boys' thing to do in Japan. Playing in a jazz band is an after school club activity. Correct me if I'm wrong, each year, the juniors have to quit to prepare for their college entrance exam in their senior year. This 2002 version of BFJO are all leaving the club shortly after this.

[Sappyspartan]

Are they really understanding this music? Or is it just sheer practice and hard work that they've achieved this perfection of the song?

There's no dynamic contrast in the solos or the piano at all. I doubt they really understand the feeling the song's supposed to give out.

[SvenHild]

Youre totally right. of course its enourmous. but they dont have the swing. so is doesnt mean a thing ;)

too sad...

[OldBogey]

No swing? You don't know what swing is.

Beatles fan?

[halo3face]

yeah, they can sure read the music, but when it comes to solos they just don't have the emotion to apply to the improvisation

[OldBogey]

They are kids and not on drugs!

[OldBogey]

What the hell are you talking about. This is just great. I hate to become insulting.

[dan3117]

Amazing!!!Well done!!! Rhythm is marvelous!! I can't believe You are high school girls,,,

[DOAer]

Intense piano solo!

[theinvisiblelight]

the trumpet player doesn't have the best tone in the beginning, but it gets better :0 wonderful performance

[calamaya48]

astonishing

[aerolatinogeba]

Tough I fav it years ago... It stills sounds great! Clap clap. Had a good time listening to it again.

[SceptileMaster]

Damn they swing!

[ipxwnedaninja]

that was a ridiculous piano solo.

[Neverintime]

There is no better way to start your day.

[achilless]

one of the best trumpet solos I've heard.

[tubagirl93]

what is up w/ the way she holds her trumpet!

[namaskarji]

maybe im crazy, but is the trumpet soloist holding the horn sideways?

[mlehnertz]

Yes it is sideways. It may limit the fingering but it doesn't affect the sound of the horn.

[anaaaaal]

Every master has his/her method,why don't you go and tell Dizzy NOT to blow his cheeks out or Miles Not to point his trumpet to the floor !

[RogerSquawk]

looks like a future case of carpel tunnel to me

[lac436]

A lovely "Big Band"sound and the brass section,six trumpets!! OK with me.

[mukogawaJazz]

Tremendous... very talented students.... Salute...

[phialin1954]

High School?????This is the best high school band I've ever heard in my whole life.

And Yes, its already 2AM and I will not sleep til I see all their videos.

[wisconsinkiste8]

@phialin1954 I've seen better once... At my school ;) I'm playin' Alto Sax and tenor myself and I can say, they're not bad but not the best. ;)

[drinkinginspanish]

oh wow, I could swear that the drummer is my old Japanese tutor. But I know she was most likely here in the states when this was recorded.

[achimc]

Hey, BFJO --Fabulous stuff: you blew the hell out of that great old tune. What an outfit you are!!!!

Thanks

[MrGameface]

they're not highschool, are they?

[DOAer]

They most certainly are!

[Kostenbaat]

The running about was in a different song. Sorry.

Hear that baritone?

[jimmy10028]

Great stuff, i think you can tell what must set you apart from the other high school bands, you dont sound like a high school band, your swells use of dynamics and well rounded soloist bring you to a profesional level,great work

[Kostenbaat]

Great. But why all the running about. I find that confusing.

[DOAer]

Running about?

[braintreecat]

I think he's referring to the video crew in the background. Concentrate on the music =forget the side shows!!!

[DOAer]

Ohhhh.

"True dat." Haha.

[bluefirefly9]

INSANE

[Sthador]

Haha. But in all seriousness. Damn. I played this song last year in my band class. Not even close to this good.

[Sthador]

Holy balls they are crazy.

[DOAer]

Holy balls? That's a new one haha.

[Kostenbaat]

Great. Harry Carney reincarnated?

[KamranGhiassi]

Beautiful and amazingly played.

[cha5]

Incredible!

This band is inspired.

[iso306465]

you know a band is good...when they sound this amazing with such a small number of people

[iplaytehbasspipes]

these videos are especially superb because most extracurricular activities in Japanese schools have now adult supervision and are entirely student-directed, so the director of this band is most likely a twelth grader.

[braintreecat]

This is amazing. You are right Asian poster confirms this as he has seen them in person. NO ADULT DIRECTOR- yet they cover all the bases we expect from a super jazz ensemble (i.e. dynamics, blend, balance, interpretation and soloists). I hope this trend doesn't come to USA- we band directors will be out of a job!. See them in person in Seattle in "09 to check them out.

[DOAer]

Does anybody happened to know the arranger of this piece?

[DOAer]

In my opinion, this is the best piece this band has ever played. Out of all of the videos, this one stands out because of skill. I like the drums solos on Caravan and Boogie Stop Shuffle. But I like this one overall.

[DOAer]

But Get in Line is starting to catch my eye more :P

[Trombone0817]

Seriously, is this like a pricate high school for the arts or something? This is absolutely amazing for a high school ensemble to be playing at this level together.

[Trombone0817]

private*

[imthebrother]

"It Don't Mean a Thing" was one of my favorite Duke Ellington compostions ever in the history of jazz and popular music. Still need to find out the arranger and sheet music of it.

[PecosRiverBrass]

I don't know the arranger, but John Fedchock did a chart for Woody (published by WB) that is very similar to this chart. Bones unison on the bridge, good ensemble and lots and lots of solo space. It is available.

[braintreecat]

Some really nice solos and strong ensemble playing.

[braintreecat]

I'm impressed with their nonchalance and control-PLUS they're enjoying what they're playing ! Great trumpet and superb piano soloists. This is not a chart for the faint of heart ! 10 stars

[DOAer]

Lol it looks like the drummer has the look on her face: Why am I even here.... Either that, it's just tiredness....

[braintreecat]

But listen to what's she's playing !!! It's an Asian thing I believe. (the expression)

[DOAer]

Lol. I'm Japanese, but I always move to the groove when I play :) Well, I guess it's an Asian thing for drummers lol.

[imthebrother]

Greatest solos I ever seen from this group. They're my new favorite band. Big Friendly Jazz Band still rules the world.

[DOAer]

Lol I like how the 2nd trombone just stays standing for like 20 measures.

[DOAer]

Never mind, it was aobut 12-13 bars.

[magyckuser]

DAMN. thai gud lol

[STC4blues]

Best trumpet solo I've heard from Big Friendly.

[DOAer]

Lol seirously.

[DOAer]

Takasago tte doko?

Where's Takasago High? Lol.

Everybody loves a honking bari :)

[DOAer]

Never mind, it's in Hyogo-Ken

[Umdaan]

Amazing. Simply amazing.

[trextor]

Holy crap those solos are impressive for such a young group!

[shwizzy]

WOW! Amazing! How old are these kids?

[jazzclarinet2006]

They're in high school. I'd say 15-18 years old. You can see some other videos of them around YouTube. Go check them out!

[Dillard]

Wow nice jazz.

[schen12]

i've never seen an all girls jazz band before. I'm impressed. Girls playing instruments are hot.

[annieirka]

THIS IS HOTLY AWESOME! I LOVE IT!

[STC4blues]

hot damn! cowboy bebop live and cookin'

[sazzaria]

Fantastic! And they are all girls? Woohoo! I love the grip the bass and guitar players have on the neck of their instruments: very loose and freeflowing. ...and I'm a brass player. ;-)

[lukecinto]

They are at a very high level considering their age and on their best way to become outstanding musicians. Thumbs up.

[Jazzbobill]

The future for jazz is here. These kids are phenomenal.Great post

[pierrelp]

Powerfull! Fantastic arrangement! Kudos!

[zedekielfrank]

...wow...

[arcticwolfhowler]

dude, this is awesome!