"Devil's Sweet" (Co-written with Danny Seraphine)
"Aire" is one of the most fun charts I've had the pleasure of performing while in high school jazz band.
I also think of it every summer when the Hot-Air Balloon Festival flies over Fresno. I can hear Jimmy and Lee's horns and Walt's flute as people scurry on the ground getting the balloons up, and Terry's guitar as people are looking down at the city below while floating quietly across the valley sky. Great stuff!
"Devil's Sweet" reminded me of why auditions were required to get into the jazz band in the first place. Our director used to use this chart to help us improve our chops and ready us for jazz band competitions. This is not a chart for the part-time musician. You need serious chops - and if you didn't have them at the first rehearsal, you'd better believe you'll have them after a few weeks (depending on the amount of discipline you have to stick with it, that is).
Still, it's listenable. You can tell when the Devil is sitting on his throne scheming quietly and when he's cut loose to raise a little hell. Brilliantly done!