David Ashton Music

Composed and Arranged by David Ashton

I originally wrote this tune in 2012 on the subway in New York City while attending Manhattan School of Music. In a composition class, Dave Liebman encouraged us to write melodies we loved without considering the harmony that would accompany them, and only later develop the harmonic structure. I found this process revealed a very different side of my musical voice and led to ideas I may not have discovered through a more traditional approach.

Later that semester, I arranged the piece for big band as an assignment with guidance from Jim McNeely. Years later, when I began leading my own big band, I revisited the arrangement, expanding it with a development section and refining the form. The resulting version is the arrangement presented here.

The piece is characterized by its unusual 6-bar phrase structures and distinctive harmonic language, creating a sense of motion and surprise while maintaining a strong melodic focus.

Purchase on 

Sheet Music Plus

Composed by Horace Silver

Arranged by David Ashton

I created this arrangement of Horace Silver's "Strollin'" at the request of Kevin Blancq for his band, which held a regular engagement at Swing 46 in New York City. During the pandemic, we played this tune together countless times as part of a quintet performing in Central Park, and those performances heavily influenced my approach to the arrangement.

While staying true to the relaxed, swinging feel and character of Horace Silver's original, I expanded the writing with richer contrapuntal textures and a development section that gives the arrangement a fresh sense of momentum before returning to the melody.

The chart calls for an alto saxophonist who doubles on flute, a strong bass trombonist, and a band comfortable playing in D-flat major. If your ensemble enjoys a hard-swinging groove with thoughtful writing and plenty of energy, this arrangement is a lot of fun to play.

Purchase on 

Sheet Music Plus

 Composed by Victor Young

Arranged by David Ashton

This arrangement of “My Foolish Heart” is designed for an advanced high school, collegiate, or professional big band. The chart features an intricate countermelody woven throughout Victor Young’s original melody, creating a rich and lyrical texture inspired in part by J.S. Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.”

I wanted the arrangement to develop organically through sophisticated reharmonization and a gradual metric modulation into a double-time feel, rather than through an abrupt tempo shift. The result is an expressive and contemporary interpretation that remains faithful to the emotional character of the original song.

The chart was premiered on October 12, 2021, at Swing 46 in New York City by the David Ashton Big Band.

For the improvised section, I recommend dividing the solo space among several players in 8-bar segments, though this is not required. The solo chorus may also be shortened or omitted depending on performance needs.

Please note that the reference recording does not fully reflect the suggested double-time feel indicated in the score and parts for the rhythm section.

I hope you enjoy performing this arrangement!

Purchase on 

Sheet Music Plus