Crazy Rhythm: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score

$8.00 USD

Crazy Rhythm: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score

Name: Crazy Rhythm: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-50458S
Price: 8.00 USD
Availability: InStock

Music by Joseph Meyer and Roger Wolfe Kahn / Lyrics by Irving Caesar / arr. Greg Nielsen

Grade: 1.5

Item: 00-50458S

$8.00

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Here's a nice easy swinger on a familiar title. Played around 144 BPM with written solos provided for tenor sax, trumpet, trombone, and piano. Well-written and fun to play with many optional parts to include flute, clarinet, and vibes.

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Series: Belwin First Year

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 16

ISBN10: 1-4706-8619-8

ISBN13: 978-1-4706-8619-2

UPC: 038081620121

SKU: 00-50458S

More about this title

About the Composer: Joseph Meyer

Joseph Meyer was a prolific composer and pianist active in the 1920s and 1930s, a period when jazz and popular song were reshaping American music. He wrote for Broadway, film, and the recording industry, often collaborating with lyricists and fellow composers to create standards that blended theatrical appeal with jazz sensibility. His melodies were crafted to be memorable and singable, which translates well to ensemble arrangements across skill levels.

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Why we love this

This arrangement captures the infectious energy of a classic swing tune without demanding technical virtuosity from young players. The written solos for tenor sax, trumpet, trombone, and piano give developing improvisers a structured entry point into jazz soloing, while the optional parts (flute, clarinet, vibes) make it flexible enough to fit various ensemble configurations. It's the kind of piece that builds genuine enthusiasm for jazz ensemble work right from the start of the year.

What to expect

Bright, bouncy, and playful. The tune sparkles with the kind of joy that made swing music irresistible in its heyday, and the arrangement preserves that lightness without oversimplifying the harmonic language. Players come away grinning.

Who it's for

Directors building a first-year jazz ensemble curriculum will find this accessible without being patronizing. Developing musicians at the Grade 1.5 level gain confidence through a familiar melody and clearly written solo sections, while the swing groove introduces them to the rhythmic foundation that underpins all jazz ensemble playing.

How to get the most out of it

Set a steady tempo around 144 BPM and lock it in the rhythm section first. The groove depends on consistent quarter-note pulse and swing eighth-note feel from the piano and bass before soloists enter.
Balance the written solos carefully. Tenor sax and trumpet should sit slightly forward in the mix, but let the ensemble cushion them with solid harmonies rather than drowning them out.
Use the optional parts strategically. Add flute and vibes for color on the second chorus, or hold them back to keep early rehearsals focused on core instrumentation.

How to use it

Open a jazz concert or pops program with this; its familiar title and immediate swing appeal set a relaxed, fun tone. It also works well mid-year as a morale builder when students need a confidence boost, or as a sight-reading warm-up once they've settled into jazz idioms.