A Salute to Benny Goodman: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

$55.00 USD

A Salute to Benny Goodman: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

Name: A Salute to Benny Goodman: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-JE9735
Price: 55.00 USD
Availability: InStock

Transcr. and adapted by Jeff Hest

Grade: 4 (Medium Advanced / Difficult)

Item: 00-JE9735

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One of the greatest big band leaders of all time is duly honored in this medley of jazz standards. Jeff Hest has reworked these jazz masterpieces into a tightly knit mixture of Benny's best that will appeal to both performer and audience alike. It's a perfect opportunity to teach your students some historic (and immensely popular) jazz. (6:20)

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, A Salute to Benny Goodman: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

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Series: Premier Jazz Series

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 74

UPC: 029156602746

SKU: 00-JE9735

More about this title

About the Composer: Benny Goodman

Benny Goodman (1909, 1986) earned his place in American music history as the "King of Swing," a clarinetist and bandleader who brought jazz into concert halls and broke racial barriers by integrating his ensembles during an era when that was genuinely radical. His band defined the swing sound of the 1930s and 1940s, combining technical precision with infectious energy, and his influence shaped how jazz ensemble music is taught and performed today.

What makes Goodman essential for music education is not just his historical importance but his musical intelligence. His arrangements demanded virtuosity from every section, pushed soloists to take risks, and proved that jazz could be both intellectually rigorous and wildly fun to play. For students, learning his standards is learning how American popular music actually swings.

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Why we love this

Jeff Hest's medley captures what made Goodman's bands irresistible: those killer grooves, the call-and-response energy, and the sense that everyone on stage is locked in together. At Grade 4, this sits exactly where serious student ensembles can handle the technical demands without getting bogged down, making it both ambitious and achievable. Your students will leave the rehearsal room feeling like they actually swung something.

What to expect

This medley moves with the unmistakable pulse of the swing era: bright, driving, full of call-and-response moments that pull the whole band together. There's both sophistication and joy in it, the kind of energy that makes the audience sit up straighter.

Who it's for

Jazz ensemble directors working with upper-level high school or college groups who want to program something historically grounded and genuinely swinging. Soloists in your section need to be confident enough to carry a line, and your ensemble needs to lock into the groove.

How to get the most out of it

Pay relentless attention to the rhythm section. The whole thing lives or dies on how tight your drums and bass are together; get them rehearsing separately first, then integrate.
Balance the solo spotlight moments against ensemble cohesion. Soloists should feel supported by the section, not fighting against it.
Lean into the articulation markings. Goodman's era was all about crisp, synchronized tonguing; that clarity is what makes the ensemble cut through.
Let the tempo breathe. Don't rush the swing feel just because the piece moves; a confident, laid-back approach usually lands harder than pushing.

How to use it

Program this in a concert celebrating American jazz history or as a centerpiece for a big band showcase. It works beautifully as a counterpoint to contemporary jazz writing, showing your students where modern ensemble jazz actually comes from.