Sammy Nestico - Samantha

Absolute composition by the great Sammy Nestico!
Includes a wonderful sax solo by the great Bud Shank.
www.sammynesticomusic.com/
This version is available from both CD compilations:
Night Flight: tinyurl.com/bdrvajs
Big Band Favorites of Sammy Nestico: tinyurl.com/bda53lc

[@markpouncil6648]

In the 80's, I was lead alto in my high school jazz band and when I heard this, I immediately asked our band director if we could learn and play it. He followed up with the sheet music for the band shortly after and ended up being my mother's favorite song to hear us play and me solo. Our band was amazing and this song has stayed near and dear to my heart for 36 years.

[@SamIAm-kz4hg]

My friend played the solo on this. I played lead trumpet. They asked us to record it for the prom. It's almost 39 years ago for me. I became a music teacher and am now retired. Oh to go back to those days.

[@LuluNoLimit]

I love stories like this, it’s what jazz is

[@neat1039]

Im playing this for my jazz band as the soloist Ill be performing it live in a few days!

[@LuluNoLimit]

@@neat1039 SAME LMAO yea we are using this as a very easy chart to throw together quicker for a little concert

[@neat1039]

@@LuluNoLimit nice

[@franzliszt7682]

RIP Sammy, your music will keep your soul alive. ❤️

[@jeffreymarkpaull6273]

The late, great Bud Shank playing one of the most beautiful alto features ever written for the big band.

[@dandiacal]

Sammy Nestico is such a deep and profound writer. What I mean is his absolute mastery of melody and changes. He is a very subtle writer and carefully chooses every note. His melodies are always lyrical (His ballad chart Katy is another example of this). When he uses an altered or substitute chord it always matters and is effective. He knows how to create emotion through inner voice leading. He is a true classicist. There is a logic. Never gets as dense as Thad Jones or Bob Minter or Brookmeyer, all three of whom who of course are masters in their own right and expand the harmonica language. Nestico is not as interested in that. It is not a matter of better or worse. But Nestico seems the master of the "less is more". His music always aims to have beauty, and to have a good swinging propulsion on up tempos.

[@imthebrother]

yes indeed

[@atbigfoot91]

In the last half of the 20th century Sammy Nestico was the Mozart of swing.

[@StukInBuf]

I've loved this ballad for nearly 25 years. Started during a high school jazz band competition.

[@santialvarez9485]

shut up nigga

[@charlesduckettjr.800]

The way that Bud Shank subtly interprets the melody is a great example of how to do that. The line is already hip even if you play it exactly as notated; but Bud puts just enough alterations in there to make it sound like he is improvising the line. I don't know if you could teach this skill in a school. Personalizing a melody rendition like this is about as important as blowing choruses, as far as being a jazz musician. Having such great players is an arranger's dream. They make the music come alive!

[@imthebrother]

so true

[@FirefighterShoe]

My favorite tune on this album and my most favorite ballad EVER! I absolutely LOVE this piece.

[@alexbeachem4294]

My moms name is Samantha, and she's the most important person in the world to me. We love this song. It means so much. This man is amazing.

[@LuluNoLimit]

After competitive season, my jazz band played this song with a professional Alto Sax Jazz musician. She chose this song and "Lullaby Of Birdland" by George Shearing. Lullaby was more challenging to learn while this one came to our band in one day. Even though we only played it for one month and we are done with it now, it still touches my heart with its great melodies.

[@Jeffertoya]

My favorite song of all time. I've heard it a thousand different ways but this is still the greatest. Love this.

[@DiamondPickaxe831]

I have the pleasure of playing piano for this song with my high school's jazz band. A truly phenomenal piece of music.

[@patrickmcnamara5846]

My Favorite female name and one of my favorite tunes...Bravo

[@soft_cheu854]

Woo! We played this on my tour this year, but instead of a sax, my teacher transposed it for the Trombone, and it sounded just as good as this one! I absolutely love the song!

[@elbedregal]

This is immense!!! Thanks for posting and to the great Sammy Nestico for such wonderful music!!

[@gustavrosenhagen5527]

Sammy's book on arranging still guides every project I work on. I bought it in '94 when I was a kid in high school.

[@Isalsero1]

Beautiful beautiful ballad.

[@leofont6026]

That hit hit's so hard I love it

[@tacosix2]

I just know this today. and became favorite number.

[@usher197814]

Damm I love it.

[@RAM134519]

Soulful Jazz Number.

[@Phitalian]

The phrase a measure 34 (shout) is my absolute favorite!

[@amorettir32]

Leon high school is playing this for MPA this year... were doing a great job... #LeonRoarin'JazzBand

[@vancegarven4731]

lincoln's jazz is better

[@cristianlopes3687]

We are playing this again at Leon this year

[@eric61443]

Ah, Bud Shank...nothing more to be said!

[@davekana8388]

Wow, Bud Shank!

[@babinm]

Nestico has a wider palate of arranging styles than I thought.

[@coyallen8012]

iconic. will never be again. that era has gone and passed. now we have rap crap

[@whiskeycitydiggers]

There's merit to all music.

[@insaneevillogan]

Not only is there merit to all music, music like this is still being written but even better with modern techniques, the enemy is modern producers. Fight back don’t let these lame cheeto puff shoveling producers ruin it all.

Perfect a music.

[@imthebrother]

I totally agree

[@FirefighterShoe]

Completely!

[@AljoniMusiCo]

He can WRITE! .... :-)

[@UndeadGamingCA]

The SWR version of this is absolutely magical. Bud plays it amazingly but something about the SWR big band and the way Klaus Graf plays it is astonishing.

[@naruokaeiji3097]

4beat & alto saxphone　のソロが心地よいサウンドを醸し出して」います。Nice！

[@chrisfreyernyc]

Henry, this is so great. I had Dark Orchid as a kid and played the heck out of it. Can you please post the full album? I don't think it's available on CD.

[@imthebrother]

Several songs from the album are currently available on two CDs i.e. Big Band Favorites of Sammy Nestico and Night Flight

[@patrickmcnamara5846]

Would have preferred a Tenor sax...but the Alto makes it nice and bright...real perfection...

[@zach-qk7wg]

It is a tenor lmao

[@patrickmcnamara5846]

Zachary Mendelson negative lock jaw...

[@BradWhy-uw7sj]

It’s Krriptic no it’s not, I’m playing it for my highschool, it’s written for alto

[@zach-qk7wg]

BradWhy I play it for my school on Tenor, you can play it for both. It just depends what it’s written for 🤷‍♂️

[@patrickmcnamara5846]

It’s Krriptic exactly...And the performer was exclusively in alto player

[@timothyhalbrook8411]

Are there any other arrangements of this song out there that are not a feature? I played this last school year in my jazz band, and this year, I hear it and it is being played by a trumpet and a flute

[@imthebrother]

sammynesticomusic.stores.yahoo.net/, also check into Kendor Music, Sheet Music Plus, J.W. Pepper Music, etc for all the resources of this song which is brilliant.

[@user-jt8wh8ir8j]

That was sooo tasty i want another piece of that cake

[@WHISPERLIKECHEEZ3]

1:56-2:12 ❤

[@MCPickaxe]

Is there anywhere I can find a backing track for this without the lead sax part so I can play over it?

[@sarabellon9458]

wow everyone in these comments are so old, well hi!

[@8ren382]

SHUT THE FUCK UP

[@ronny6682]

@@8ren382 u good?

[@whiskeycitydiggers]

You'll be old someday, Sara. Spongebob is pushing 30.

[@santialvarez9485]

Wow

[@DavidLazarus]

I was exposed to this song by my high school jazz band in the 80s.

[@Phitalian]

AKA at the 2 min. mark.

[@H3LPIV3FALL3N]

I can never make the sharp 11 sound good

[@JimmyMRollins]

What is the chord before the last chord???

[@adampeplinski7492]

I can't name that chord but i know the notes. B in bass then Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Bb.

[@JimmyMRollins]

@@adampeplinski7492 Okay thanks!!!

[@thetunedinacademycalendar6760]

@@adampeplinski7492 That would be a B Maj7 9, 13

[@undeniablySomeGuy]

lol this sounds like something from Etrian Odyssey. If you know, you know.

[@Dvaoid]

2:20

[@coyallen8012]

OMG, another 11 non-musical idiots down voting this incredible performance! What is happening to the musical world! RIP Sammy the real musicians will always love you!