Act Your Age: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

Goodwin writes with the confidence of someone who understands what makes a big band swing and what makes a section roar. "Act Your Age" delivers contemporary funk grooves that feel current without sacrificing the jazz fundamentals your ensemble needs to master, and the saxophone solo opportunities give your soloists genuine showcase moments within a contemporary idiom.

Funky and assured, with a sassiness that matches its title. The contemporary groove sits squarely in modern big band language while maintaining the kind of pocket that makes audiences want to move, and the saxophone solo moments give the chart personality beyond the headlong horn sections.

Advanced jazz ensembles ready to tackle a professional-level chart with attitude and ensemble sophistication. Directors programming concerts that need contemporary funk energy alongside traditional jazz repertoire will find this accessible for Grade 6 ensembles with solid section players and soloists comfortable with jazz phrasing.

• Lock the groove pocket early in rehearsal by isolating the rhythm section to establish the funky foundation before layering the horns.
• Have your lead trumpet player map out the high G passages in advance and work through them with proper support and phrasing to maintain clarity rather than forcing the notes.
• Shape the sassy character through articulation and dynamics; let the alto, tenor, and baritone soloists breathe and phrase naturally over the funky backdrop rather than rushing through their space.
• Use the chart's contemporary production sound as a model for ensemble balance and blend, paying attention to how individual voices cut through the mix without overwhelming the texture.

Pair this with other Goodwin charts to showcase his compositional range, or anchor a concert set that moves between straight-ahead swing and contemporary funk grooves. The chart's length and energy make it an excellent closing number or concert closer that leaves audiences energized.

• Reading and executing contemporary funk and jazz rhythmic feels
• Balancing individual solos within the ensemble texture
• Managing lead trumpet range extension (high G and above)
• Phrasing and articulation within a sassy, contemporary style
• Ensemble blend and section tuning in a funk-influenced setting