Centerpiece: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

Mike Story's arrangement captures the essence of a blues classic while keeping ranges and rhythmic demands within reach of developing players. The written solos for tenor, trumpet, and alto give students concrete melodic material to learn from, and the flexible instrumentation (optional clarinet, flute, and vibes) means you can build the piece around the ensemble you have on any given day.

A relaxed, head-bobbing groove with a melody that sticks in your ear. The tune carries the warmth and familiarity of a blues that's been played a thousand times, yet each ensemble brings its own character to the familiar changes. Soloists get to shine without navigating complex harmonic terrain.

This chart is built for jazz ensembles in their first or second year, where foundational swing vocabulary and section independence are still developing. Directors seeking a blues standard with immediate appeal and forgiving ranges will find this an invaluable addition to the easy repertoire rotation.

• Lock the ride cymbal and walking bass into a steady swing pulse first; once those anchor, the front line will settle into the pocket more easily.
• Take the written solos at face value during early rehearsals. Students often rush or squeeze these passages; have them play exactly what's on the page before adding interpretation.
• Balance the brass so the melody registers clearly over the comping chords. A common mistake is letting the trombones cover the trumpet or tenor.
• Keep the tempo honest at 120 BPM. Easier charts often drift faster as players gain confidence; a click track in rehearsals helps maintain the original groove.

Program this early in the concert to establish swing comfort and loosen up the audience. It pairs naturally with other blues-based charts or as a bridge between more structured classical works and busier contemporary charts, giving the ensemble a confident spotlight moment.

• Swing eighth-note subdivision at medium tempo
• Reading lead sheets and written melodic solos
• Balancing melody and rhythm section in ensemble context
• Managing easy trumpet, alto, and tenor ranges in solo passages
• Responding to tempo stability and ensemble cohesion in blues form