Is That All There Is?
SSA · 5-horn
Ain't That a Kick in the Head
by Jimmy Van Heusen, Sammy Cahn
Duration
2:50
Difficulty
Intermediate–Advanced
Commissioned by
Duchess
Instrumentation
SSA Alto Sax, Tenor Sax, Baritone Sax, Trumpet, Trombone (All horns optional) Piano, Bass, Drums, Guitar (Opt.)
Written by Jimmy Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn in 1960 for the film Ocean’s 11—which featured five members of the Rat Pack: Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, and Joey Bishop—“Ain’t That a Kick in the Head” was written expressly for Dean Martin and arranged by Nelson Riddle. The film version includes a great bluesy solo break by vibraphonist Red Norvo, whom Martin calls out by name in the film (“Red, that’s a kick in the head").
I admire Riddle’s writing, and whenever I am tasked with providing a new arrangement of one of his classic charts, I hesitate. So I was a bit concerned when I saw it on the list of tunes I was asked to arrange for Duchess’s A Marvelous Party album. The challenge is to “forget” a version that’s etched in one’s mind in order to provide a different reading—in this case, one that serves a close-harmony vocal front line instead of a charming crooner. It took a while, but I think I got there.
This arrangement features parts for a five-horn section, but it can also be played with just a piano, bass, and drums rhythm section.
