Combo Blasters Take 3!: B-flat Treble Clef Instruments Book

López has packed 15 recognizable titles into a single book that works for groups of any size, from a skeleton combo to a full instrumentation. The B-flat parts sit comfortably for tenor and baritone saxophones, and the mix of pop standards, TV themes, and patriotic material gives you instant flexibility for concerts, pep rallies, and community events without hunting through multiple catalogs.

Expect a mix of swagger and joy. Hollywood themes and Latin grooves sit alongside nostalgic standards and celebratory sing-alongs, all arranged with enough contemporary flavor to feel current while respecting the melodic strength of each tune. The energy level swings from slick and cool to infectiously upbeat depending on which title you're playing.

This book belongs in the hands of directors who need dependable combo arrangements that don't require doubling books or complicated cuing systems. Tenor and baritone saxophone players at the intermediate level will find parts that are playable but still musically engaging, with enough rhythmic variety to keep rehearsals fresh.

• Balance the melody line carefully when your ensemble is small; these arrangements are written for flexible instrumentation, so the lead voice must cut through even when you have fewer players doubling it.
• Use the variety of styles to shift tempo and energy between numbers. The march-like feel of Dragnet and The Star-Spangled Banner will feel completely different from the groove of Conga and Smooth, so treat each piece as its own concert statement.
• Lock the rhythmic feel on the syncopated material in Jungle Boogie and In the Midnight Hour; these grooves rely on precision even more than melody awareness.
• Check your intonation during the sustained chords in slower passages like James Bond Theme. With a lean ensemble, tuning issues become obvious fast.

Program individual selections throughout the year as concert openers, fillers between larger works, or standalone moments at pep assemblies and community performances. The collection's stylistic range lets you build concert sets with real dramatic arc, or pull single pieces on short notice when you need something crowd-friendly that your players already know.

• Reading syncopated rhythms in contemporary pop and funk grooves
• Balancing melody and harmony in flexible ensemble settings
• Executing clear articulation across contrasting musical styles (march, swing, groove, ballad)
• Responding to lead voice positioning in small-group textures
• Maintaining steady tempo during sparse accompaniment passages