Exciting Sounds of the Big Band Era: 2nd Trumpet Book

Clean, energetic, and buoyant. These arrangements capture the joy and precision of the big band sound; even at the second trumpet level, you're part of a machine that swings hard and lands every punch together. The writing balances rhythmic drive with harmonic sophistication, keeping your part engaging without overwhelming.

Intermediate to advanced jazz ensemble trumpeters ready to support and complement the first trumpet line. This book works for students who have solid fundamentals and can read fluently in various keys and styles, from swing to blues to novelty jazz.

• Balance your tone with the first trumpet by listening actively during ensemble runs. The second part often shadows the lead voice, and blend becomes your primary concern.
• Find the groove early in rehearsal by locking in with the rhythm section on tunes like In the Mood and Two O'Clock Jump. These pieces demand rhythmic precision across the trumpet section.
• Shape phrases with attention to the soloist's phrasing when you're in a supporting role. Many of these standards benefit from a conversational feel between parts rather than rigid sectional unity.
• Warm up the upper register before tackling passages in pieces like Eager Beaver and Taking a Chance on Love, which sit higher than some of the blues-based selections.

Build a full big band concert around this collection, pairing second trumpet arrangements with compatible first parts and full instrumentation to give students the experience of performing within a complete jazz ensemble. Alternatively, rotate selections into rehearsals as reading material or as warm-up vehicles before tackling more ambitious projects.

• Reading in multiple keys and time signatures common to jazz standards
• Balancing tone and blend as a supporting voice in a section
• Swing articulation and phrasing across blues, ballad, and up-tempo contexts
• Following chord changes and harmonic movement in jazz arrangements
• Responding to ensemble cues and section attacks with precision timing