Cissy Strut: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts
By George Porter / By Arthur Neville / By Leo Nocentelli / By Joseph Modeliste / Arranged by Roger Holmes
Grade: 3
Item: 35-PK00227616
$50.00
Pickup currently not available
Buy Extra Parts (Digital PDF Download)
| Product | Price | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Cissy Strut - Conductor Score (Full Score) | $6.00 | |
| Cissy Strut - Alto Sax 1 | $6.00 | |
| Cissy Strut - Alto Sax 2 | $6.00 | |
| Cissy Strut - Tenor Sax 1 | $6.00 | |
| Cissy Strut - Tenor Sax 2 | $6.00 | |
| Cissy Strut - Baritone Sax | $6.00 | |
| Cissy Strut - Trumpet 1 | $6.00 | |
| Cissy Strut - Trumpet 2 | $6.00 | |
| Cissy Strut - Trumpet 3 | $6.00 | |
| Cissy Strut - Trumpet 4 | $6.00 | |
| Cissy Strut - Trombone 1 | $6.00 | |
| Cissy Strut - Trombone 2 | $6.00 | |
| Cissy Strut - Trombone 3 | $6.00 | |
| Cissy Strut - Trombone 4 | $6.00 | |
| Cissy Strut - Guitar | $6.00 | |
| Cissy Strut - Piano | $6.00 | |
| Cissy Strut - Bass | $6.00 | |
| Cissy Strut - Drums | $6.00 | |
| Cissy Strut - Aux Percussion | $6.00 |
Parts Added to Cart!
Description
Few people remember The Meters and this recording from 1969, however, over the years "Cissy Strut" has become a model of funky drumming and simmering grooves and has been recorded by countless rock and jazz artists. Roger Holmes captures the unique sound of the original and includes a flexible solo section along with hot sounds for the entire band.
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00227616
More about this title
About the Composer: George Porter
George Porter was the bassist and a founding member of The Meters, the New Orleans funk outfit that defined the sound of late 1960s and early 1970s groove music. Working alongside Arthur Neville on keyboards, Leo Nocentelli on guitar, and Joseph Modeliste on drums, Porter helped create some of the most influential funk recordings in American music history.
As a composer and bandleader, Porter's approach to rhythm section writing emphasized pocket playing and locked grooves over flashy technical display. His work with The Meters has influenced generations of musicians across funk, rock, soul, and jazz, making him an essential figure in understanding how modern ensemble music is built around fundamental groove principles.
Why we love this
This arrangement captures something authentic about how great funk is constructed: a hypnotic rhythmic foundation that lets soloists thrive without ever losing the groove. Roger Holmes' transcription respects the original's architecture while building in genuine flexibility for your ensemble, meaning students learn the real thing rather than a simplified approximation.
What to expect
Hypnotic and propulsive, with a simmering energy that never rushes. The groove sits with an ease that feels deceptively simple until you try to play it, revealing the sophistication underneath a surface-level funkiness that has earned this piece countless recordings and cover versions over five decades.
Who it's for
Jazz ensembles at the intermediate level who are ready to engage with genuine funk and groove concepts rather than swing-based jazz standards. This works beautifully for bands seeking repertoire that connects to broader popular music history while building legitimate rhythm section skills.
How to get the most out of it
- Lock the bass and drums into the pocket first during sectional rehearsals. The entire arrangement pivots on their steadiness, so isolate these voices until they feel completely locked together before adding the rest of the band.
- Shape the horn sections with dynamics that sit behind the bass line rather than cutting through it. This is a groove where the horns support and color the rhythm section, not compete with it.
- Approach the solo section as an invitation rather than a solo showcase. The band needs to maintain the groove's architecture while giving soloists room to explore, which requires active listening from non-soloing players.
How to use it
Pair this with other groove-based pieces to build a concert set around rhythm and pocket playing, or use it as a bridge between traditional jazz repertoire and contemporary improvisation. It's particularly effective as a closer when you want the audience to leave feeling the groove.
Skills your students will build
- Maintaining steady time within a locked groove without rushing or dragging
- Playing behind the beat and understanding pocket placement in funk contexts
- Supporting improvisation within a repeating harmonic framework
- Balancing ensemble blend when horns function as accompaniment rather than lead voices
- Listening and responding to rhythm section as the primary organizing element of the arrangement