Airegin (arr. Mike Tomaro): Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts
As performed by John Coltrane / Arranged by Mike Tomaro
Grade: 5
Item: 35-PK00423593
$45.00
Pickup currently not available
Buy Extra Parts (Digital PDF Download)
Parts Added to Cart!
Description
This jazz classic from Sonny Rollins features an uptempo Latin groove with alternating sections in swing. In this challenging, yet great-sounding arrangement the head is treated in a tutti format for all 6-horns, and the solo section is open for any player.
Airegin (arr. Mike Tomaro): Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.
Request This Title
Tell us you want it.
Start Your Free Trial
Explore everything that's ready to play right now.
Sample Audio
No sample audio found.
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00423593
More about this title
About the Artist: John Coltrane
John Coltrane transformed jazz through relentless harmonic exploration and spiritual depth. His tenor saxophone tone became one of the most recognizable and influential sounds in all of music, commanding respect across genres and generations of musicians.
Coltrane's compositional voice shaped modern jazz standards. "Airegin" (Rollins' name spelled backwards) exemplifies the kind of memorable, swinging melody that has become foundational repertoire for jazz ensembles everywhere. His recordings continue to inspire both jazz historians and student musicians seeking to understand the language of improvisation.
Why we love this
Mike Tomaro's arrangement balances accessibility with the sophistication that Grade 5 players deserve. The tutti head immediately engages all six horns in unison, creating energy and clarity, while the open solo section invites any section member to step forward without forcing a particular instrument into the spotlight.
What to expect
Propulsive and sophisticated. The Latin head grooves with purpose, then opens into a swinging space where soloists can stretch harmonically without losing sight of the melody. The arrangement honors the original's infectious quality while giving young players something genuinely complex to execute and interpret.
Who it's for
Jazz ensembles at the intermediate to advanced high school level, or strong community college and adult groups seeking a standard with real pedagogical meat. Directors looking for music that challenges harmonic reading and improvisational thinking without requiring years of jazz study will find this rewarding.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish the Latin groove pocket before rehearsing the head. Have the rhythm section lock the clave feel first; horns enter cleaner once the foundation is solid.
- Shape phrase endings in the tutti sections with subtle dynamics rather than abrupt cutoffs. This keeps the melodic line breathing even during quick figure passages.
- Prepare multiple soloists in the open solo section so you can rotate players across performances. Hearing different voices over the changes deepens the ensemble's understanding of the tune.
- Balance the transition from Latin to swing. Mark rehearsal numbers clearly and have the section leaders cue the feel shift so the rhythm section catches it together.
How to use it
Place this in a jazz concert alongside swing-era standards and more contemporary compositions to show stylistic range. It pairs naturally with other Sonny Rollins material, or use it as a programming bookend that demonstrates how a single strong melody can anchor both rhythmic precision and improvisational freedom.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and executing Latin rhythmic figures in ensemble context
- Distinguishing clave feel from swing feel and switching between them
- Balancing melodic phrasing across a six-horn tutti section
- Navigating chord changes during open improvisation
- Listening to and responding to rhythm section groove cues