El Macho Muchacho: Guitar
El Macho Muchacho: Guitar Sheet Music Preview

El Macho Muchacho: Guitar

By Gordon Goodwin

Grade: 6 (Professional / Very Advanced)

Item: 00-PC-0017140_G
Digital Download
$3.00
View Full Set
Description
Composed and arranged by Gordon Goodwin, this buoyant samba is sweet. Soprano sax lead and solo space available for soprano, alto, tenor, trumpet and trombone. Lead trumpet range is to written high F-sharp, and it has an auxiliary percussion part and an optional 1st alto part. This chart is exciting and dynamic! (1:26) This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, El Macho Muchacho: Guitar comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

Open in the Player

Jump straight in and assign it today.

Start Your Free Trial

Open this title and explore the full library in minutes.
Sample Audio
0:00
0:00
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Series: Gordon Goodwin Series
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 84
SKU: 00-PC-0017140_G

More about this title

About the Composer: Gordon Goodwin

Gordon Goodwin

Gordon Goodwin began composing at five years old, writing complete works rather than fragments. His first big band arrangement, Hang Loose, arrived when he was just thirteen. By his twenties, he had established himself as a composer and arranger for television and film, earning three Emmy awards and multiple Grammy nominations for his work on scores including Bad Boys II, Con Air, Remember the Titans, and Star Trek: Nemesis.

Goodwin has written for and performed alongside major artists including Christina Aguilera, Quincy Jones, Ray Charles, and Johnny Mathis. Since 2000, he has led Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band, one of Los Angeles's premier jazz ensembles. The band's albums have consistently earned Grammy recognition, with XXL receiving three nominations and subsequent releases establishing Goodwin as a leading voice in contemporary big band jazz.

Why we love this

Goodwin writes for ensembles with professional-level swing and accessibility in mind. El Macho Muchacho showcases his trademark clarity of orchestration and infectious samba groove, giving brass soloists genuine space to shine without obscuring the ensemble's driving rhythmic foundation. The chart rewards tight section work and individual preparation equally, making it ideal for groups ready to tackle advanced literature with real personality.

What to expect

El Macho Muchacho bounces with Brazilian samba energy and swagger. The soprano sax melody sits sweetly over bright brass punctuation and a propulsive groove that keeps the piece moving without letting the ensemble rest.

Who it's for

Grade 6 jazz ensembles with strong lead trumpet and soprano saxophone players and solid rhythm section fundamentals. This is repertoire for groups that have moved beyond straightforward swing interpretation and can handle the technical demands and stylistic nuances of contemporary big band writing.

How to get the most out of it

  • Lock the soprano saxophone lead with the rhythm section from the first rehearsal. Goodwin's samba charts depend on absolute precision between the front line and the time-keeping bass and drums.
  • Prepare solo space players individually before full ensemble rehearsals. Trumpet range extends to high F-sharp, so lead player and soloists should have excerpts marked and practiced separately.
  • Balance the auxiliary percussion part as a melodic voice, not decoration. This chart's dynamic drive relies on sharp articulation from all tuned and untuned percussion.
  • Use the optional first alto part strategically to strengthen section weight if needed, but avoid doubling unless the section requires additional support or confidence.

How to use it

Program this as a closing number or second-half opener on a jazz concert where you want to shift energy and celebrate ensemble confidence. The 1:26 length and straightforward samba feel make it a compelling bridge between slower ballads and uptempo swing vehicles.

Skills your students will build

  • Latin rhythm interpretation in a big band context
  • Balancing ensemble articulation with samba groove
  • Solo improvisation over jazz changes with secure harmonic support
  • Cross-section coordination between written melody and rhythm section
  • High register trumpet playing under dynamic control
  • Reading advanced jazz ensemble parts with independent section voices

You May Also Like