Big Phat Jazz Piano Solos: 10 Big Phat Band Classics Recomposed for Piano: Piano

These arrangements distill the swagger and harmonic sophistication of Goodwin's big band originals without requiring an ensemble. A pianist gets genuine jazz repertoire that rewards careful listening to phrasing and comping style. The inclusion of Goodwin's own performance videos makes learning these pieces an apprenticeship with a master composer rather than a solitary technical exercise.

These pieces crackle with the energy and wit of the Big Phat Band while maintaining an intimate, conversational quality at the keyboard. You'll find moments of genuine lyricism balanced against playful rhythmic sophistication and the kind of harmonic language that keeps revealing new colors with each performance.

Intermediate to late intermediate pianists seeking substantial jazz repertoire with genuine musical depth. Jazz ensemble directors can assign these as solo vehicles for their pianists, and serious students will find pieces that reward repeated study and performance.

• Study the online videos of Goodwin performing each piece to understand his rhythmic approach and interpretation; his phrasing choices are integral to the musical intent
• Balance the solo lines with the harmonic accompaniment by listening to how the bass and comping voices support without overwhelming the melody
• Explore the groove on pieces like Samba del Gringo and Backrow Politics by feeling the underlying pulse rather than strictly metronomic counting
• Use rubato thoughtfully in moments like An American Elegy, where emotional weight comes from space and timing rather than technical speed

Feature one of these as a solo during a jazz ensemble concert, allowing your pianist to step into a spotlight while maintaining the Big Phat Band aesthetic. They work particularly well as encores or concert openers, establishing a contemporary jazz identity for your program. You might also program one alongside traditional jazz standards to show how modern big band writing approaches familiar harmonic and rhythmic vocabulary.

• Interpreting jazz comping voicings and comp rhythms
• Reading and executing syncopated jazz melody lines
• Balancing solo line projection with harmonic accompaniment
• Understanding groove and swing feel in contemporary big band idiom
• Applying rubato and phrasing in jazz contexts
• Recognizing and executing harmonic extensions and alterations