Big Band Spectacular: Concert Band Conductor Score

Bullock's medley captures the infectious energy of the big band era without asking your band to play beyond Grade 4 capabilities. Fourteen iconic tunes flow together in a single, high-energy concert piece that audiences recognize immediately, making this an ideal closer for almost any concert. The writing stays musical and idiomatic throughout, giving your section leaders room to shine while keeping the ensemble together.

This medley swings hard from the downbeat. You get the glamorous, high-energy rush of the big band ballroom experience compressed into six minutes, moving from the galloping pulse of "Racing With the Moon" through the undeniable groove of "Stomping at the Savoy" without losing momentum. The writing sparkles with period authenticity while remaining playable for developing musicians.

Concert bands working at the Grade 4 level who want to program audience-friendly jazz repertoire without sacrificing musicianship. Directors building confidence in swing style and jazz articulation will find this accessible enough for solid community and school bands while sophisticated enough to hold engaged listeners.

• Establish a consistent groove in the rhythm section before rehearsing full ensemble passages. The swing feel anchors every tune in this medley, so locked bass and drum foundations will make everything else fall into place.
• Balance the saxophone section carefully during the head statements and solos. These players carry the melodic identity of most big band tunes, and they need to sit slightly forward without overwhelming the ensemble.
• Mark the transitions between tunes during early rehearsals. Fourteen medley sections mean thirteen transition points, and clarity here keeps the energy moving rather than creating confusion.
• Give brass players permission to phrase and breathe like the big band players they're emulating. Jazz phrasing differs from classical concert band style, and this distinction will give the performance authentic character.

Program this as a concert finale or as the anchor of a themed concert celebrating American swing standards. The medley's length and continuous energy make it excellent for pops concerts, community band performances, or spring concerts where you want to end on an unmistakable high note.

• swing articulation and phrasing appropriate to jazz style
• reading and executing rhythmic figures common to 1930s-1940s big band writing
• ensemble balance when saxophone and trumpet lines carry melodic material simultaneously
• clean section transitions across multiple tunes in medley form
• interpreting jazz dynamics and style markings beyond traditional concert band notation