Taylor, Billy (Garland) - I Wish I Knew What it Was to be Free (Jazz Ensemble Score & Parts)
Jazz Tonight series volume 1
As played by Tim Garland and the Dean St Underground Orchestra, Tim Garland's arrangement of Billy Taylor's I Wish I Knew (made famous by Oscar Peterson, Nina Simone and Film 2002!) for the more flexible line-up of nine-piece jazz ensemble. Ideal for high school and college jazz bands.
Review:
"I was very excited when I was asked to review this resource, as Tim Garland is one of the biggest names on the London jazz scene ...... I was not disappointed. This is a difficult number to set in a big band context. It was originally written for rhythm section and vocals and can become very stodgy with a larger group. Garland overcomes this by asking for a slower tempo than usual and writing in the style of a horn chorale with modern harmonies. He also uses highly syncopated passages to keep the rhythm on the move. The effect is very beautiful, if rather difficult to bring off well in a school context"
(Ian Wilson, SMA Bulletin)
Press
"I Wish I Knew What it Was to be Free is a difficult number to set in a big band context. It was orignally written for rhythm section and vocals and can become very stodgy with a larger group. Garland overcomes this by asking for a slower tempo than usual and writing in the style of a horn chorale with modern harmonies. He also uses highly syncopated passages to keep the rhythm on the move. The effect is very beautiful, if rather difficult to bring off well in a school context."