A Touch of Honey: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

López writes for the ensemble that actually shows up to rehearsal, not the one you wish you had. The trumpet solo hooks listeners immediately while the supporting lines remain playable for developing musicians, and the optional instrumentation means you can perform this regardless of who's present on any given day.

The piece unfolds with unhurried elegance. A lyrical trumpet voice takes center stage over warm, simple harmonies while ensemble lines move gently beneath. It has the quality of something overheard rather than performed, creating an intimate atmosphere despite the group setting.

Beginning jazz ensembles with limited reading skills and few soloists will find this chart immediately rewarding. Directors of middle school and early high school jazz programs can teach fundamental concepts like balancing melody and accompaniment without the complication of improvisation.

• Shape the written trumpet (or flute) solo with genuine lyricism. This melody deserves rubato and space, not metronomic accuracy.
• Balance the rhythm section carefully during the solo section so the soloist can breathe without fighting the band.
• Let the ensemble moving lines breathe as a unit. Mark clear sectional attacks together in rehearsal and maintain that precision throughout the piece.
• Use the optional parts strategically. Doubling the lead trumpet line or adding extra horns thickens the texture without requiring advanced musicianship.

Open a concert with this ballad to establish mood and demonstrate your ensemble's range beyond uptempo swings. It pairs naturally on a program with driving standards or blues charts that showcase a different side of your group's abilities.

• Balancing melody and accompaniment in a jazz context
• Shaping sustained lines with appropriate phrasing and expression
• Playing with ensemble precision in easy, lyrical material
• Reading written jazz notation and part writing
• Understanding the role of optional instrumentation in flexibility