TYPICAL STRUCTURE OF A SWING STYLE TUNE
The interpretation by the Barcelona Swing Flamingos of Duke Ellington's well-known theme It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) is a very good example to see how swing-style songs are usually structured.
If you turn on the subtitles of the video you can follow it in detail.
You will see that it starts with a VAMP. Vamp is a series of chords that are repeated, as many times as the band wants. It is quite common for it to be used to introduce musicians, as it is on this occasion.
You'll see the piano and bass (accompanied by drums) play four chords (which are the same ones the song will start with), one every two beats.
NOTE: Most dancers clap their hands in the bit (HORROR) and it makes the vamp's 4 chord cycle a bit difficult to understand, but, if you listen closely, you'll get it.
Once the band has been introduced, the first chorus enters, with an AABA structure, with the theme of the piece (minute 1.11). In this case they slightly modify the first part of the melody.
In the second AABA chorus (1.49) they sing the theme.
AABA solo choruses begin. The third chorus is for tenor sax (2.27).
The fourth for the trombone (3.06).
The fifth chorus (always with AABA structure) for the alto saxophone (3.44).
NOTE: it is quite common that if there are two instruments of the same family (two saxophones or a trombone plus a trumpet) they do not play the solo in succession, in order to give more contrasts to each chorus. In this case, after the tenor sax, the trombone has done the solo, then the alto.
Sixth chorus with piano solo (4.22).
The seventh chorus will be for the trumpet player to do the solo but, to introduce some variation to the structure, they start with a tutti (all the instruments playing a few measures of a prepared melody). In this case it lasts two eights (four bars)(4.48) They repeat this again in the second A. So the trumpet player is only soloing the last two eighths of each A. During the B he solos and in the last A they do the same again.
New chorus (eighth) for double bass solo (5.37).
Ninth chorus for the drum solo (6.14). If you listen closely, you will still hear the AABA structure, although there is no harmonic accompaniment. You can perceive that he closes the phrases with different beats and that he changes to doubles when the B enters.
Tenth chorus AABA again with the main theme (head)(6.48). The first part (AAB) is instrumental and the last A is sung.
At the end (7.25) they repeat the final part of A, to close the theme, with the Doo-va-doo-va-doo-va-doo-và.
Not all swing themes have an AABA structure, nor do all swing themes follow this pattern. But, by far, this scheme used by the Swing Flamingos is the most common.
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The Barcelona Swing Flamingos are:
Miquel Donat - Trumpet
Marc B. Trepat - Trombone
Albert Gassull - Alto Sax, Tenor Sax
Toni Gili - Tenor sax
Octavi Banyuls - Piano
Jordi Casanovas - Double bass
Carles Gili - Drums
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