Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score

This is a legitimate concert-grade swing chart that arrives gift-wrapped with comedic gold. Your students get to program something genuinely fun without sacrificing musicality, and the audience will laugh before the first note lands. Ralph Ford's adaptation respects the original Gordon Goodwin arrangement while keeping the technical demands reasonable for younger ensembles.

Goofy, propulsive, and impossible not to smile during. The swing groove sits solidly in the pocket while the arrangement acknowledges the campy fun of its source material, creating something that plays straight musically but winks at the audience.

Jazz ensemble directors leading Grade 2 groups who want to program something that lands with audiences and keeps students engaged without overshooting their technical level. This works equally well for community college ensembles, high school jazz bands looking for a fun concert closer, or middle school groups ready for mainstream swing idiom.

• Nail the rhythmic precision in the ensemble sections first. The swing feel depends on locked articulation across the section, especially during the opening statement.
• Balance the section solis carefully so they breathe as part of the ensemble voice rather than stepping out as solo features. These moments should feel like natural conversation within the band.
• Let the absurdist title inform your rehearsal energy. The band's enthusiasm about the piece itself becomes contagious and translates into an engaged, playful performance.

Program this as a concert closer or the opening number to set a lighter tone for your set. It pairs well alongside more traditional swing standards and serves as a palette cleanser between heavier repertoire. Consider pairing it with other film and comedy-source material for a themed concert.

• Swing articulation and feel in ensemble context
• Section blend and balance during soli passages
• Reading and executing syncopated rhythmic figures
• Dynamics control across ensemble and smaller voicings