Dusk To Dawn (Solo Alto Sax Feature): Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts
By Mark Taylor
Grade: 4
Item: 35-PK00247448
$50.00
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Description
In sort of a throwback style of slow funk, here is a skillfully composed vehicle for solo alto sax. Rich harmonies and an infectious groove help set the stage. And with careful pacing and tight ensemble figures, this makes an appealing change of pace for any concert or festival.
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00247448
More about this title
About the Composer: Mark Taylor
Mark Taylor has built a reputation as a composer and arranger with a gift for writing accessible, musically sophisticated works across multiple genres. His scores consistently demonstrate strong harmonic writing and a keen understanding of ensemble balance, making his pieces standard choices in jazz and concert band curricula.
Why we love this
Taylor gives the alto sax player a genuinely rewarding solo role without asking the section to sit idle. The slow funk idiom is specific enough to feel current yet timeless, and the tight ensemble figures create a satisfying counterpoint to the featured voice rather than mere accompaniment.
What to expect
Twilight settles into something alive. The groove is patient and deliberate, almost restful, yet there is motion in those harmonies and an undercurrent of sophistication beneath the simplicity. The alto sax voice emerges as intimate and reflective, framed by ensemble voices that suggest depth without crowding.
Who it's for
Jazz ensembles at the intermediate level looking for a feature that showcases a capable soloist while building the entire ensemble's ability to support and balance around a single voice. Works equally well for concert programming or festival settings where you want to demonstrate variety in style and texture.
How to get the most out of it
- Let the rhythm section lock in the groove during rehearsal before layering the ensemble figures; the precision here makes the whole piece breathe.
- Work the alto saxophonist on phrasing and tone quality in the exposed sections. The richness of the harmonies behind them demands an equally full sound.
- Keep dynamics restrained in the ensemble parts so the soloist cuts through naturally without requiring excessive volume.
- Experiment with slight swing feel and rubato in the solo line to keep the slow funk from dragging, even though the ensemble maintains steady pulse.
How to use it
Place this as a palette cleanser between higher energy selections, letting it anchor the second half of a concert with its cooler energy and introspective mood. It also serves as an excellent festival selection that demonstrates both compositional craft and ensemble refinement at Grade 4 level.
Skills your students will build
- Solo phrasing and breath placement over a fixed groove
- Rhythmic precision in ensemble figures supporting a featured voice
- Listening and balancing when accompanying rather than leading
- Understanding slow funk rhythm and feel in a jazz context
- Harmonic sophistication beyond standard chord changes