Beauty and the Beast: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score

Gordon Goodwin's arrangement captures everything that makes big band jazz irresistible: a locked rhythm section, punchy brass writing, and room for soloists to shine. The Basie-influenced groove transforms a beloved Disney melody into something your ensemble will enjoy playing as much as your audience will enjoy hearing it.

A confident strut through a ballroom draped in midnight blue. The melody glows with Broadway warmth, but the Basie-influenced groove keeps everything grounded and swinging. Energy builds steadily from ensemble sections into the soloists' moments, then erupts into a shout chorus that feels inevitable and joyful.

Jazz ensemble directors seeking Grade 5 repertoire with genuine crowd appeal and strong solo opportunities. Players at this level benefit from the stylistic demands of authentic big band writing, and the soloists gain experience managing harmony and phrasing in a full ensemble context.

• Lock the rhythm section tight before the ensemble rehearsal. The groove lives in the pocket, so drummer and bass player should work together on the swing feel and clarity of the backbeat.
• Give the piano and tenor sax soloists ample time to prepare their parts. Both solos have character and require comfort with the harmonic progression and style conventions of the big band tradition.
• Shape the shout chorus with attention to dynamics and articulation. The written dynamics are essential to the energy and impact of that section, so mark them clearly in all parts.
• Bring out the counterlines in the brass sections during ensemble passages. Goodwin layers textures throughout the chart that reward careful sectional balance.

This works beautifully on a winter concert or spring pops program, especially alongside other jazz standards or contemporary big band charts. The combination of sophistication and immediate appeal makes it an excellent closer or concert centerpiece.

• Reading and executing big band style conventions (articulation, interpretation of swing notation)
• Balancing ensemble blend with sectional independence in layered brass textures
• Maintaining groove and pocket in extended swing passages
• Responding to dynamic shape and nuance across 20 pages of active musical material