Introduction of the Band

Right away,I began an arrangement for the Band the day after I had met Chuck.
The tune had been arranged for a Combo (one trumpet + one trombone + one Saxophone) because of a concert I saw when I was a school girl.
I newly rearranged the tune whose name was " Yearnin' ", for the Big Band.

Usually a Jazz Big Band is formed from 17 players;
4 trumpets + 4 trombones + 2 alto saxophones + 2 tenor saxophones +
one baritone saxophone and 4 rhythm (piano,guitar,bass and drums).
Without computer music software, an amateur like me could never arrange
with so many notes.

"Just come!!"
Even though Chuck invited me,I, who had neither ability nor confidence,
couldn't go with nothing in my hands.
For a month,I was absorbed in the arrangement,giving all of my time to it, repeatedly doing trial and error.
At last it was completed.
I carried my primitive arrangement and I finally visited the enemy's camp.
(I understood the meaning of "tremble" because of being so scared).

The name of the Band was "Jazz Connexion" and it was composed of
about 20 caucasian members.
This was an amateur band in which several professionals were participating
and I could see 2-3 women's faces.
Most of the members were people whose favorite music was jazz and
they had performed in a concert band in their school days.
It was natural that they watched me with cynical and curious eyes
because I,a foreign stranger,suddenly showed up with the Band.

Chuck introduced me, timid and nervous, to Rob who was the concertmaster.
"Nice to see you !"
"Will you let me observe the rehearsal?"
"Why not?"
In this serious mood, I could not say right away,
"Please play my tune !!!"

"If you would like to play the piano, go ahead !"
"I can't. It's impossible !"

There was this communication, and their practice started soon after.

The practice place was a rented music room from a local high school,
and the Jazz band was given only 90 minutes.
There was no chatting time. This was because a following Band was waiting
for their soon after the Jazz Band.

At first I watched their performance sitting on a chair, but in the end,
I did play the piano, because I felt an irresistible impulse to play with
them.When the practice was finished, I was overwhelmed with emotion
because of the happiness that I was able to perform with the Band.

Then Rob asked me,
"You will come next week, won't you?"
"I would like to be the substitute pianist until the regular pianist will be
found.I will do my best, Thanks !!"
I answered.

A regular pianist was not found until after I returned home.

Rob came to me when I was clearing the place after the practice,
I thought this was the right time to present my tune.
So I proudly handed in the music score in front of him and said,

"To tell the truth, I have brought a tune for the Band".
"That's great ! Let's try it next week !"
he said.

There is no doubt of the fact that my dream would never have been
achieved without kindhearted Rob.
This was the whole story of my debutin the Band.

It continues to Part 3.