Everlasting: Piano Accompaniment
As Performed by Gordon Goodwin's Little Phat Band
By Gordon Goodwin
Grade: 5 (Advanced / Difficult)
Item: 00-PC-0017262_K
$3.00
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Description
As recorded by Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band on the CD That's How We Roll, but minus the woodwind doubles, saxes only. Arranged for flexibility, it's a beautiful solo feature for C instruments, alto sax, tenor sax, trumpet, or trombone with all those solo parts included. Tempo is easy at 138 BPM with a mellow straight-eighth groove. Lead trumpet range is easy to written F-sharp on top line and flugelhorns for the section if possible. This very accessible as a solo feature. A gorgeous melody. 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, Everlasting: Piano Accompaniment comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
Gordon Goodwin Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
92
SKU:
00-PC-0017262_K
More about this title
About the Composer: Gordon Goodwin
Gordon Goodwin has been composing music since childhood, writing full arrangements rather than fragments by the time he was in elementary school. His first big band chart appeared when he was just 13, setting him on a trajectory that would eventually land him three Emmy Awards and Grammy nominations for film and television work on projects ranging from Bad Boys II to Remember the Titans.
Beyond his Hollywood success, Goodwin has collaborated with an impressive roster of artists including Christina Aguilera, Quincy Jones, and Ray Charles. He has also guest conducted major orchestras across North America and Europe. Since 2000, he has channeled his compositional and arranging mastery as the leader of Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band, a Los Angeles-based ensemble that has itself earned Grammy recognition and redefined contemporary big band jazz.
Why we love this
Goodwin knows how to write a melody that sticks with you, and this one proves it. The straight-eighth groove at 138 BPM sits in that sweet spot where it feels relaxed without dragging, giving your ensemble room to breathe and phrase naturally. The flexibility of solo options across multiple instruments means nearly any student can experience being featured, and the accessible trumpet range keeps the section from feeling strained.
What to expect
Warm, unhurried, and genuinely lyrical. The mellow groove invites the listener to settle in rather than sit on the edge of their seat. This is music built for connection, not flash.
Who it's for
Jazz ensembles at the Grade 5 level looking for music that sounds sophisticated without excessive technical demands. Directors who want to program a feature that works equally well as a showcase solo or an ensemble number, depending on which voice you highlight.
How to get the most out of it
- Lean into the mellow character of that straight-eighth feel. This isn't about rushing the pulse; let the rhythm section establish a groove that feels like it's floating slightly behind the beat.
- Give the solo feature generous space for dynamics and breathing. The melody is your selling point, so resist the urge to overplay dynamics in the background figures.
- If you're using flugelhorns in the trumpet section, let that tonal warmth come through. Goodwin's orchestration choice here isn't incidental; it shapes the whole emotional landscape.
- Check your section voicings for blend, particularly in the sustained harmony parts. The chart's accessibility means clarity of color matters even more.
How to use it
Perfect for a concert that needs a lyrical centerpiece between more uptempo selections. The accessible range and flexible solo options make it ideal for mid-year or end-of-year performances where you want to highlight individual players without stepping outside your ensemble's comfort zone.
Skills your students will build
- Straight-eighth jazz feel and groove pocket
- Balancing solo articulation with ensemble accompaniment
- Reading and executing sectional background figures that support rather than distract from a featured line
- Ensemble blend in sustained harmonic passages
- Phrasing and dynamics in a lyrical jazz context