Amen: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score

Name: Amen: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 01-ADV34008-1
Price: 16.95 USD
Availability: InStock

By Jim Snidero / arr. Mike Titlebaum

Item: 01-ADV34008-1

$16.95

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Amen is a medium up-tempo gospel-swing, influenced by Horace Silver's "The Preacher." Mike Titlebaum underlaid the bluesy melodies, developed throughout the arrangement, with a driving shuffle rhythm first introduced by the trombones in the intro. There is a written trombone solo included but the solo section can be opened up for any other instrument. "Amen" is based on the etude with the same name from Jim Snidero's Jazz Conception Series. First trumpet: E (top of staff).

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Series: Advance Music: Big Band Plus

Publisher: Advance Music

SKU: 01-ADV34008-1

More about this title

About the Composer: Jim Snidero

Jim Snidero has spent more than three decades establishing himself as a leading voice in contemporary jazz. An alto saxophonist, composer, arranger, and educator, he earned recognition from Downbeat Magazine as both a "master musician" and "alto saxophone virtuoso," and his work continued to influence the international jazz scene into the 2010s. His early years in the Washington, DC area included mentorship under Phil Woods and participation in the University of North Texas One O'Clock Lab Band before he relocated to New York in 1981.

Snidero's career took shape through sideman work with landmark ensembles and artists including Brother Jack McDuff, the Mingus Big Band, Toshiko Akiyoshi's orchestra, and appearances on Frank Sinatra recordings. As a leader, he built a substantial discography marked by stylistic range and musical integrity, with albums like Mixed Bag and Blue Afternoon earning recognition as essential contemporary jazz recordings. Beyond his work as a performer, Snidero has become an influential educator whose compositions and etudes, including the Jazz Conception series, have shaped how countless student musicians approach jazz language and improvisation.

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Why we love this

This arrangement captures the infectious spirit of classic soul-jazz while remaining thoroughly accessible for developing ensembles. Mike Titlebaum's voicings honor the Horace Silver lineage without overwhelming younger players, and the written trombone solo provides an anchor point while leaving room for any section to step into the spotlight.

What to expect

Amen settles into a relentless, finger-snapping shuffle that feels both celebratory and laid-back. The bluesy melodies float over the driving rhythm with a warmth borrowed from soul-jazz traditions, creating a sound that is immediately satisfying to play and hear.

Who it's for

This score works for intermediate to advanced jazz ensembles seeking repertoire with genuine groove and straightforward accessibility. Directors can program it with confidence that students will hear themselves making authentic jazz sound without excessive technical barriers.

How to get the most out of it

Lock the shuffle rhythm from the opening trombone figures. That pocket is the foundation for everything that follows, so spend rehearsal time getting the rhythm section and trombones to breathe together.
Balance the bluesy melodic content against the driving beat. The melodies sing, but they sit inside a relentless groove, so avoid letting soloists overpower the ensemble's forward motion.
If opening the solo section to other instruments, brief the soloist on the harmonic structure and the shuffle feel so they maintain the gospel-swing aesthetic regardless of who takes it.
Use the trumpet's E top-of-staff range as your tuning reference, and remind players that this gospel-influenced piece thrives on slightly earthier, less classical vibrato and tone.

How to use it

Pair this with other gospel-influenced or soul-jazz selections to build a cohesive set with real stylistic coherence. It works equally well as a high-energy opener or as a bridge between more complex modern jazz works, and its medium tempo and clear harmonic structure make it ideal for including student soloists in a concert setting.