Sax, Wind & Funk Medley Diverse / Arr. Stefan Schwalgin

for Saxophone Section and Wind Band

1. September
2. Spinning Wheel
3. Birdland

Earth, Wind & Fire, Blood, Sweat & Tears, and Weather Report these three jazz-rock bands enjoyed their greatest successes in the 1970s, and each group had one major hit that is still instantly recognizable to listeners today. These three funk-infused superhits namely September, Spinning Wheel, and Birdland are brought together in this high-energy medley. (The title of the medley, Sax, Wind & Funk, is, of course, a play on the triple naming pattern found in the first two band names.)

In rock and pop music, which are heavily dominated by vocals and electronic instruments, the saxophone stands out as the wind instrument most frequently used. In jazz, however, the saxophone is virtually considered a symbol of identity. Therefore, it was a natural choice for arranger Stefan Schwalgin to give a soloistic role to the five-part saxophone section (A, A, T, T, B) of the concert band within a jazz-rock arrangement especially since the sound of the saxophone, due to its range and tonal flexibility, comes closest to the human voice.

The medley SAX, WIND & FUNK impresses with its ingenuity in detail and consistency in structure. The musical language of the original pieces is transferred to the concert band format without any stylistic distortion. The medley can be performed with a minimum of three soloists (A, A, T), and a version with four saxophones (A, A, T, B) is also feasible with slight compromises.