Exciting Sounds of the Big Band Era: 2nd B-flat Tenor Saxophone Book

Smooth, driving, and deeply grooved. These are tunes built for the dance floor and the concert hall alike—the kind of material that makes audiences move and players settle into that relaxed-but-locked pocket that defines real swing. You'll feel the era's confidence and joy in every phrase.

Intermediate to advanced jazz ensemble saxophone players comfortable with swing style and section playing. This works for high school jazz bands with solid fundamentals and college ensembles building their big band repertoire.

• Nail the rhythm section pocket by locking your articulation with the bass and drums; these tunes live and die by the groove, not by playing ahead or dragging
• Balance your tone against the first tenor part; second chair voices the harmony, so listen carefully to intonation and blend while maintaining your own voice
• Study the recordings of classic big band tenors to hear how phrasing breathes in these arrangements; sheet music alone won't capture the swing
• Mark your breaths and phrase boundaries ahead of rehearsal; 36 pages of material means you'll need efficient air management

Use this as the core book for a full big band concert, pairing the 2nd tenor part with matching books for other sections to perform the complete arrangements. Alternatively, pull individual tunes throughout the year as sight-reading etudes or as features within longer jazz programs. The variety of tempos and styles keeps rehearsals fresh and gives you multiple programming options.

• Reading and executing swing eighth-note articulation
• Balancing individual voice within a section blend
• Navigating syncopated rhythms across tempo changes
• Playing second part harmony while maintaining strong intonation
• Responding to rhythm section cues and dynamic shifts
• Building endurance through extended ensemble passages