Chili Today, Hot Tamale: 2nd Baritone T.C.
By Rick Hirsch
Grade: 2 (Medium Easy)
Item: 00-PC-0016256_BTC2
$3.00
Pickup currently not available
Description
A great title and great chart. A samba groove in cut time around 90 BPM, accessible for a solid grade 2 level. Written solos for trombone 1 and tenor sax 1, and trumpet 1 range goes to written A above the staff with optional lower notes. This chart is fun to play and loaded with energy! (3:20) This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Chili Today, Hot Tamale: 2nd Baritone T.C. comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
Open in the Player
Jump straight in and assign it today.
Start Your Free Trial
Open this title and explore the full library in minutes.
Sample Audio
1
Audio File
--:--
0:00
0:00
Sample Video
Additional Details
Series:
Young Jazz Ensemble
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
102
SKU:
00-PC-0016256_BTC2
More about this title
About the Composer: Rick Hirsch
Rick Hirsch studied composition and theory at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Northern Illinois University, where he developed the arranging craft that would define his career. Early on, he worked as a personal music copyist for legendary bandleaders Bob Mintzer and Toshiko Akiyoshi, an apprenticeship that shaped his understanding of how jazz ensembles sound and function. His commissions span from major university programs like Penn State to accomplished soloists including Yusef Lateef and Eddie Henderson.
Hirsch has served on the faculty at Penn State University and regularly guests with All-State and District Jazz Bands as a conductor. In 2017, his own ensemble, Rick Hirsch's BIG OL' BAND, released their debut album Pocono Git-Down, which shines a spotlight on thriving jazz communities outside major metropolitan areas. His writing consistently balances accessibility with genuine musicianship.
Why we love this
This chart delivers the infectious energy of a samba without overwhelming your ensemble. Hirsch writes idiomatically for jazz voices at the grade 2 level, giving soloists real material to dig into (trombone 1 and tenor sax 1 have written parts that sound substantial) while keeping the ensemble texture clear and playable. The title alone will get your students smiling the moment you mention it in rehearsal.
What to expect
Bright, propulsive, and celebratory. The samba groove in cut time creates a forward-moving pocket that feels looser and more spacious than a straight 4/4 feel would, and the title's playful wordplay sets an expectation of joy from the downbeat. Energy is built into the arrangement; your students will feel the lift in the rhythmic foundation.
Who it's for
This arrangement works for high school jazz ensembles working at the grade 2 level, as well as developing community college ensembles or adult jazz groups who want music that's musically satisfying without extreme technical demands. Directors seeking Latin-tinged repertoire that reads cleanly and energizes a concert will find this chart immediately useful.
How to get the most out of it
- Lock the cut-time samba groove in the rhythm section first. The feel at 90 BPM should sit comfortably between relaxed and propulsive; if it rushes, the chart loses its pocket.
- Have your trumpet 1 player map out the optional lower-note alternatives before settling on the written A voicings. This flexibility lets you match the part to the player's range and confidence level.
- Give the trombone 1 and tenor sax 1 soloists room to breathe during their written sections. These are opportunities for personality, not just note-reading exercises.
- Balance the horns section so the stabs land together and the ensemble sections behind the soloists stay supportive, never drowning out the featured voices.
How to use it
Program this as an opener or a second set piece where you want to establish momentum and audience engagement. It pairs well with a ballad that follows, since the brightness and rhythmic drive will contrast sharply with anything introspective. At 3:20, it fits comfortably into festival sets and concert slots without eating into time for other repertoire.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and executing samba rhythms in cut time
- Balancing melodic content with groove-based accompaniment
- Executing written jazz solos with style and phrasing
- Ensemble cohesion in Latin-inflected big band charts
- Transposition across the jazz ensemble (Bb, Eb, and concert pitch parts)