Children of Sanchez: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

Keith Foley's arrangement captures the melodic generosity of Mangione's original without sacrificing the rhythmic sophistication students need at this level. The written-out solos give young players a genuine jazz language to internalize, while the chord voicing suggestions in the rhythm section parts prevent that common problem of student bands sounding timid or harmonically uncertain.

Warm, approachable, and groovy. This piece has the unhurried quality of a summer evening, built on a gentle Latin-influenced rhythm that lets the melody breathe. The solos invite vulnerability from young players while the section writing keeps the ensemble anchored.

High school jazz bands and advanced middle school ensembles looking for a piece that sits comfortably at grade 3 without talking down to the players. Directors want repertoire that teaches jazz vocabulary through listening and playing, not through lectures.

• Study the recorded accompaniment to understand the groove's pocket; student rhythm sections often rush the hi-hat pattern that anchors this piece
• Balance the five saxophones carefully in unison passages; the altos and tenors should blend before the baritone sits underneath
• Encourage soloists to use the written changes as scaffolding, not scripture. Once they own the melody and harmony, they can begin improvising around the changes
• Have the guitar player practice the voicing frames independently. Clean chord transitions matter more than speed here

Perfect for a concert that opens with something contemporary and accessible before moving into heavier material. The 82-page score suggests this works well as the centerpiece of a jazz ensemble showcase, or as a spring concert piece where students have time to genuinely internalize the solos.

• Reading written jazz solos with chord changes
• Interpreting rhythmic notation in a swing or Latin context
• Balancing melody and harmony in five-part saxophone writing
• Understanding chord voicings and comping rhythms from lead sheets
• Listening discipline for maintaining groove across a longer form