Buckjump: Marching Band Conductor Score & Parts

Paul Murtha's arrangement captures the infectious groove of Trombone Shorty's original without oversimplifying the jazz vocabulary. The riff-based structure makes it approachable for Grade 3 bands while the New Orleans flavor adds authentic color that students rarely encounter in standard marching repertoire.

The energy is immediate and propulsive. Tight, syncopated figures give way to moments of swagger inspired by New Orleans tradition, all while maintaining the kind of infectious momentum that makes audiences move in their seats.

Marching bands at the Grade 3 to 4 level looking to add contemporary funk and jazz to their repertoire. Directors seeking accessible material that still challenges students' rhythmic precision and stylistic awareness.

• Lock the groove early in rehearsal by having the rhythm section establish the funk pocket before layering melody. This tune lives or dies by the pocket, so spend dedicated time there first.
• Balance the brass lines against the supporting figures. The riffs need clarity without drowning out soloistic opportunities that emerge in the arrangement.
• Let the contemporary edge breathe by resisting the urge to overstate the New Orleans influence. The blend works because it feels fresh, not period-piece nostalgic.
• Record sectionals during early rehearsals so students can internalize the groove independently between full rehearsals.

This works beautifully on a concert or competition set where you want to shift energy and surprise the audience with something current. The contemporary sensibility pairs well alongside traditional jazz standards or as a palette cleanser between classical selections.

• Funk and jazz articulation (tight, syncopated stabs versus sustained phrasing)
• Reading and executing riff-based ensemble writing
• Rhythmic precision in syncopated figures
• Style sensitivity across New Orleans and contemporary jazz idioms
• Balance and blend when navigating multiple simultaneous rhythmic layers