Blue Tiger: Score
By Erik Morales
Grade: 3.5;4
Item: 98-DJE4155S
$6.00
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Description
This hard swingin' chart pays a sparkling homage to the great Henry Mancini. A wonderful way to feature your tenor sax and trumpet soloists, as well as your entire sax section in a hip feature.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Blue Tiger: Score comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
FJH Intermediate Jazz Ensemble
Publisher:
The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU:
98-DJE4155S
More about this title
About the Composer: Erik Morales
Erik Morales brings a craftsman's sensibility to educational music across multiple genres. Born in New York City in 1966, he began composing professionally while still in high school, arranging for a Florida marching band in 1985. He holds degrees from Florida International University and the University of Louisiana, Lafayette (1989), and has since published over 150 works for wind, orchestral, jazz, and chamber ensembles performed worldwide.
Morales is known for striking a deliberate balance between artistic integrity and pedagogical purpose. His trumpet works, supported by his own performing background on the instrument, have garnered recognition at the National Trumpet Competitions and the International Trumpet Guild conferences. In 2016, he was inducted into the Louisiana Association for Jazz Education's Hall of Fame, cementing his role as a significant voice in contemporary jazz education.
Why we love this
This chart captures the essence of Mancini's sophisticated harmonic language while remaining genuinely playable at the 3.5/4 level. The featured solo spots for tenor saxophone and trumpet give your section leaders room to shine, while the entire sax section gets a memorable moment that rewards solid ensemble blend and phrasing.
What to expect
Polished and cool, with the urbane character of classic film scores. The arrangement glides with a relaxed swing feel while the harmonic sophistication keeps the ear engaged; this is music that sounds classier than it plays.
Who it's for
Directors of jazz ensembles at the intermediate level who want to program a swinging chart with real solo opportunities and sophisticated harmony that doesn't overwhelm younger players. Tenor saxophonists and trumpeters ready to stretch into featured roles will find plenty to dig into here.
How to get the most out of it
- Lock the rhythm section into a relaxed, swinging subdivision of the eighth note. The groove lives in how laid-back the hi-hat and bass feel relative to the written beat.
- Balance the sax section voicings carefully during the ensemble sax feature. These voices need to lock together vertically before you worry about the melodic line.
- Shape the solo passages with rubato and space. Your tenor and trumpet soloists should feel permission to sit behind or nudge ahead of the beat without the section tightening up on them.
- Listen for the orchestral lushness Morales builds through his harmonic movement. This chart rewards attention to voice leading and smooth chord transitions, not just hitting the changes.
How to use it
Program this as a contrast to harder-swinging be-bop charts or more contemporary fusion pieces. It works equally well as a festival entry or as the anchor of a concert set highlighting your ensemble's ability to execute sophisticated ballroom swing.
Skills your students will build
- Balancing solo and section roles within jazz ensemble texture
- Interpreting swing eighth-note subdivision and related rhythmic flexibility
- Voicing chords across saxophone or trumpet sections with vertical accuracy
- Understanding harmonic sophistication in contemporary jazz composition