Blues in Hoss Flat (Blues in Frankie's Flat) (arr. Mark Taylor): Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

Mark Taylor's arrangement captures the essence of Basie's sound without overwhelming young players. The Grade 2 accessibility means your ensemble can sound like a real big band immediately, which motivates everyone in the room. It's the rare arrangement that teaches authentic swing feel while remaining genuinely playable.

Relaxed and propulsive. The rhythm feels inevitable under your fingers, and the melody sits perfectly in the pocket. Even a young group can capture that Basie orchestra lightness where everything swings hard without sounding rushed.

Directors of Grade 2 jazz ensembles who want their students playing authentic swing repertoire without the frustration of overly demanding parts. This works equally well for middle school groups stepping into jazz and high school ensembles looking for strong opener material or contest selections.

• Listen repeatedly to the included performance recording before rehearsal. Your students should absorb the pocket and phrasing before they ever open their parts.
• Emphasize the rhythm section lock in the opening statement. The drums, bass, and piano need to establish the groove so the horns can sit confidently on top of it.
• Shape the ensemble sound by asking saxes to sit slightly behind the beat while trumpets stay on top. This creates the push and pull that makes swing swing.
• Keep dynamics controlled in the tutti sections. Young players often inflate the volume in unison passages, which muddies the articulation you're working for.

Open your jazz concert with this to set the tone immediately. Audiences recognize the Basie sound instantly, and you'll win them over before the first chart ends. It also pairs beautifully with newer or more complex charts in the same program, offering a stylistic anchor point.

• Swing feel and authentic phrasing in the jazz idiom
• Section balance in a big band texture
• Blues harmony and chord changes
• Listening to and locking with the rhythm section
• Reading jazz ensemble parts and chord symbols