Big Swing Face: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score

Alan Baylock's harmonic reimagining lifts this blues-based swing chart into fresh territory. The contemporary flat 5 chords and expanded solo section give it sophistication beyond a standard Grade 3 piece, yet the blues foundation keeps it grounded and playable. Your ensemble will dig into genuine swing vocabulary while tackling modern jazz harmony.

Straight-ahead swing with attitude. The blues scale grounds everything in familiar territory, while the flat 5 chords and harmonic color add sophistication and surprise. Soloists get genuine room to play their own ideas over solid changes, and the ensemble figures lock into that irresistible forward motion that makes swing swing.

Jazz ensemble directors seeking Grade 3 repertoire with contemporary harmonic language and substantive solo opportunities. This chart rewards ensembles that have solid swing fundamentals and players ready to explore blues-based soloing and modern jazz voicings.

• Balance the lead trumpet range carefully. The part pushes to B-flat above the staff, so ensure your lead player has the endurance and security to land there without forcing the tone. Rehearse those high passages in context with the full ensemble rather than isolated.
• Lock the rhythm section (piano, bass, drums) into the swing figures before layering horns. This chart lives in the pocket of those figures, and a clean rhythm section makes every harmonic detail land.
• Give soloists clear space and time to breathe. The solo sections belong to your instrumentalists, not the arrangement. Let the rhythm section comp and support while soloists own their choruses.
• Feature the vibes strategically. The optional part adds color and sophistication. Consider whether your ensemble has a capable vibraphonist and how the part serves the overall balance.

Program this mid-set to showcase your ensemble's command of swing language and harmonic maturity. It pairs well alongside other contemporary jazz charts that honor blues vocabulary while pushing harmonic boundaries. The solo opportunities make it excellent for a jazz night concert or as a feature piece that spotlights individual musicianship.

• Reading and executing blues-based swing figures
• Interpreting contemporary jazz harmony including flat 5 chords
• Swing rhythmic articulation and phrasing across all sections
• Blues scale soloing and melodic improvisation
• Ensemble cohesion in a multi-sectional chart with soloists