Cut The Cake: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts
By Roger Ball / By Alan Gorrie / By James Stuart / By Owen McIntyre / By Duncan Malcolm / By Robert McIntosh / Arranged by Mike Tomaro
Grade: 4
Item: 35-PK00198775
$55.00
Pickup currently not available
Buy Extra Parts (Digital PDF Download)
| Product | Price | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Cut The Cake - Conductor Score (Full Score) | $7.50 | |
| Cut The Cake - Alto Sax 1 | $6.00 | |
| Cut The Cake - Alto Sax 2 | $6.00 | |
| Cut The Cake - Tenor Sax 1 | $6.00 | |
| Cut The Cake - Tenor Sax 2 | $6.00 | |
| Cut The Cake - Baritone Sax | $6.00 | |
| Cut The Cake - Trumpet 1 | $6.00 | |
| Cut The Cake - Trumpet 2 | $6.00 | |
| Cut The Cake - Trumpet 3 | $6.00 | |
| Cut The Cake - Trumpet 4 | $6.00 | |
| Cut The Cake - Trombone 1 | $6.00 | |
| Cut The Cake - Trombone 2 | $6.00 | |
| Cut The Cake - Trombone 3 | $6.00 | |
| Cut The Cake - Trombone 4 | $6.00 | |
| Cut The Cake - Guitar | $6.00 | |
| Cut The Cake - Piano | $6.00 | |
| Cut The Cake - Bass | $6.00 | |
| Cut The Cake - Drums | $6.00 | |
| Cut The Cake - Aux Percussion | $6.00 | |
| Cut The Cake - Sample Solo | $6.00 |
Parts Added to Cart!
Description
Scottish funk group, Average White Band, had two major hits that helped solidify the horn-driven funk sound of the '70s. "Pick Up the Pieces" was released in 1974, and "Cut the Cake" followed close behind in 1975. Signature tunes with catchy horn licks that still sound great today!
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00198775
More about this title
About the Composer: Roger Ball
Roger Ball is the keyboardist and founding member of Average White Band, the Scottish funk ensemble that brought horn-driven grooves to international audiences throughout the 1970s and beyond. His work as composer and arranger shaped the band's signature sound, blending soul, funk, and R&B influences into immediately recognizable hooks that defined a generation of dance music.
Ball's ability to craft memorable melodic lines within complex funk arrangements made Average White Band essential listening for musicians interested in how horns could anchor a groove. His compositions remain touchstones for jazz ensembles seeking authentic funk material with genuine commercial appeal.
Why we love this
This is funk that swings. The horn licks are specific and rewarding to execute, the rhythm section groove is locked and infectious, and students immediately understand why this song became a hit. It's the kind of piece that makes ensemble members want to practice their parts because the payoff is so satisfying.
What to expect
Loose, confident, and impossibly cool. The groove sits in that sweet pocket where everything feels inevitable yet requires precision to land properly. There's swagger in these horn lines and an easy confidence in the harmonic movement that makes playing this feel like being part of something genuinely fun.
Who it's for
Jazz ensembles at the intermediate level (Grade 4) who want to expand beyond swing-focused repertoire into authentic funk and contemporary groove. This works especially well for groups that have solid musicianship but benefit from material that connects to the music students actually listen to outside rehearsal.
How to get the most out of it
- Keep the hi-hat articulation crisp and consistent; the drums establish the pocket that everything else locks into, so the rhythm section needs to dial in first before addressing the horn layers.
- Balance the horn section so the lead voice cuts through without drowning out the harmonic support; these players should think about blending rather than competing for volume.
- Anchor the groove by feeling the eighth-note subdivision throughout; this song breathes on the space between the beats, not the beats themselves.
- Let the bass and keyboards breathe together; their conversation is what makes the funk feel effortless rather than rigid.
How to use it
Consider pairing this with other '70s funk or contemporary grooves to create a concert section that speaks to popular music history and contemporary arranging styles. It also works beautifully as an opener for a concert when you want to establish energy immediately, or as a crowd pleaser toward the end of a program.
Skills your students will build
- Locking into a consistent funk groove and resisting the urge to push or drag
- Balancing blend and articulation within a horn section playing in unison or close harmony
- Understanding how bass and keyboard parts support and respond to each other
- Executing tight rhythmic figures with sixteenth-note subdivisions
- Playing with swing feel and relaxed confidence rather than mechanical precision