“Shiny Stockings” was composed by saxophonist Frank Foster and recorded by the Count Basie Orchestra in 1955. Its relaxed, bluesy swing is pure Basie, and Ella Fitzgerald later recorded a vocal version. It’s a staple for big bands and small groups alike.
The form is a 32-bar AABA, usually in Ab major. The harmony uses ii-V progressions and secondary dominants with a relaxed, medium-swing feel. The melody is laid back and sassy.
For improvisation, swing hard but relaxed. Use blues inflections, guide tones and short riffs, in the spirit of the Basie band. Leave space and let the rhythm section groove.
Practice at a medium tempo with a Basie-style play-along. Learn the melody by ear.
Section by section: in the A sections, use relaxed, bluesy riffs and target the thirds of the secondary dominants. In the bridge, the harmony moves through ii-Vs; outline them with guide tones and add a touch of bebop. In the final A, return to the laid-back Basie style. The Basie band was famous for its use of space, so let your phrases breathe and trust the rhythm section to keep the swing going.
Practice tip: practice playing a single, simple riff for an entire chorus, changing only its rhythm. This builds the kind of swing feel and restraint that defines the Basie sound.
Memorizing the Shiny Stockings Lead Sheet PDF: learn the form in sections, not all at once. Play the first eight bars until you can do them with your eyes closed, then add the next section. Within a week or two you won’t need the page at all, which is the real goal of any lead sheet.
Is it hard to play? It’s intermediate. Recordings to study: Count Basie’s April in Paris album and Ella Fitzgerald’s vocal. Learn more about the composer on Frank Foster’s Wikipedia page, and find more big band lead sheets on Minedit.