Cute: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

$60.00 USD

Cute: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Cute: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-JEM01029
Price: 60.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Neal Hefti / arr. Bob Mintzer

Grade: 4.5 (Medium Advanced / Difficult)

Item: 00-JEM01029

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Bob Mintzer has arranged Neal Hefti's classic "Cute." From the Bob Mintzer Big Band's newest CD, Homage to Count Basie, this is a fresh and contemporary treatment of the clever and appealing tune. The tempo is brisk and the rhythms and harmonies are sophisticated, making this chart suitable for the more experienced band. Featuring the drums (of course) along with tenor, trumpet, and trombone. Audiences and musicians will delight in a creative arrangement of this well-known big band standard written by one of today's most innovative writers. Optional woodwind doubles. An outstanding chart!

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Cute: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

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Series: Premier Jazz Series

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 92

UPC: 654979995319

SKU: 00-JEM01029

More about this title

About the Composer: Neal Hefti

Neal Hefti (1922-2002) was a composer, arranger, and conductor whose work defined the sound of mid-century big band jazz and popular music. His compositions for Count Basie's orchestra became standards of the repertoire, and his gift for writing memorable melodies paired with sophisticated harmonies made him one of the most recorded arrangers of his era. Beyond jazz, Hefti composed the theme for the Batman television series and wrote for film and Broadway, but his legacy in jazz education rests on charts that balance accessibility with genuine musicianship.

Hefti's charts remain central to jazz ensemble curricula because they demand solid fundamentals while rewarding creative interpretation. His writing clarifies voice leading and harmonic function through elegant orchestration, making him invaluable for students learning how the big band tradition shapes modern jazz composition.

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Why we love this

Bob Mintzer's revision of this Hefti classic captures the original's wit and rhythmic drive while deepening the harmonic vocabulary for contemporary ears. The arrangement sits squarely at that sweet spot where students stretch beyond Grade 3 fundamentals without needing professional-level chops, and the focused solo features make section work feel purposeful rather than padding.

What to expect

Clever and bouncing, with just enough harmonic spice to keep things interesting without losing the tune's fundamental sweetness. The solos are intimate conversations that sit inside a swinging ensemble backdrop; it never feels overcrowded or pretentious.

Who it's for

Advanced high school and college jazz ensembles ready to tackle sophisticated harmony and tight section coordination. This is a working musician's arrangement, not a teaching chart, so your band needs solid readers who understand blend and can execute clean articulation at a moderately fast clip.

How to get the most out of it

Lock the rhythm section first. The tempo is genuinely brisk, and if the drums and bass aren't locked, soloists will rush or drag. Isolate rhythm section rehearsals before full ensemble runthrough.
Balance the sax section carefully during the opening statement. Hefti's original orchestration privileges the saxes, but Mintzer's arrangement needs clarity across all voices to land the harmonies.
Give soloists plenty of space to breathe during their features. Tenor and trumpet solos should feel conversational, not frantic, even at tempo.
Emphasize the kick figures in the last third of the chart. These rhythmic punches bind the band and signal the final statement. Precision here makes the ending land.

How to use it

This works beautifully as a program centerpiece or second-half opener after you've warmed up the audience with a ballad or something more contemporary. Its recognizable melody draws listeners in while the arrangement's sophistication keeps them engaged. Pair it with another Basie-era standard to create a mini-retrospective segment, or use it to showcase your rhythm section and solo voices.