Baby That's What I Need (Walk Tall) Cover Image

Baby That's What I Need (Walk Tall): Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

$42.00 USD

Baby That's What I Need (Walk Tall): Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Baby That's What I Need (Walk Tall): Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-40341
Price: 42.00 USD
Availability: InStock

Words and music by Josef Zawinul, James Rein and Esther Marrow / arr. Vince Gassi

Grade: 1 (Easy)

Item: 00-40341

$42.00

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This tune is better known as "Walk Tall" and originally performed by Cannonball Adderley's quintet. It has a gospel-flavored R&B groove. Features include lead trumpet range to written F top line, and a written tenor sax solo that trades with the ensemble. Cool chart. This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Baby That's What I Need (Walk Tall): Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

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Series: First Year Charts for Jazz Ensemble

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 86

UPC: 038081451596

SKU: 00-40341

More about this title

About the Composer: Josef Zawinul

Josef Zawinul stands as one of jazz fusion's most prolific composers and keyboardists, instrumental in shaping the sound of Weather Report and redefining what jazz ensembles could achieve electronically. His work bridges classical training, gospel sensibility, and forward-thinking orchestration, creating compositions that remain accessible to developing musicians while showcasing sophisticated harmonic and rhythmic thinking.

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Why we love this

Vince Gassi's arrangement captures the infectious groove and soulful character of Zawinul's original while keeping the part writing clean and playable for first-year ensemble members. The Gospel-tinged R&B pocket sits naturally under young players' fingers, and the trading between tenor solo and ensemble keeps everyone engaged throughout the chart.

What to expect

Warm, grounded, and propulsive. The Gospel-R&B foundation gives the ensemble something to lean into rather than fight against, while the bright trumpet lead and soulful saxophone trading create a joyful forward momentum that feels less like etude and more like real music.

Who it's for

First-year jazz ensemble programs looking for material with genuine groove and style without excessive technical demands. Directors teaching young improvisers benefit from this tune's accessible solo framework and its connection to a recognizable jazz standard.

How to get the most out of it

Lock the rhythm section into the pocket early in rehearsals. The groove's authenticity depends on the drummer and bass player understanding the swing feel beneath the R&B surface.
Give the lead trumpet soloist room to breathe and shape the melody. The written F on top sits comfortably in most lead chairs, but confidence and tone control matter more than range.
Balance the tenor sax solo conversation with the ensemble. During the trading sections, the ensemble riffs should sit behind the soloist without overwhelming the forward motion.
Emphasize the gospel elements in the section hits. Tight, voiced articulation on the horn stabs will bring out the chart's character and energy.

How to use it

Program this early in the jazz concert calendar when your ensemble is still building cohesion and confidence. The accessible level and strong groove make it an excellent vehicle for introducing audiences to contemporary jazz writing without the abstract complexity of more advanced charts.