Description
Georgia on My Mind was written in 1930 by Hoagy Carmichael and first recorded the same year. The song has been frequently associated with Ray Charles, a native of Georgia, who recorded it for his 1960 album, “The Genius Hits the Road.” In 1979, the General Assembly of Georgia designated Charles’s version the official state song, and it has become part of the Great American Songbook tradition.
This arrangement for brass quintet, co-written by Wayne Bennett and Chris Savage, presents the song as a bluesy chorale followed by a lazy swing. An uptempo bridge and quotes from Ja-Da lead to a satisfying conclusion, well-suited as a concert closer.
