Exciting Sounds of the Big Band Era: 3rd Trumpet Book

Swinging, energetic, and grounded. These classics have the propulsive rhythm and infectious energy that made big band music enduring, with melody lines that sit comfortably across all three trumpet parts and plenty of rhythmic momentum to carry you through.

Third trumpet players in high school and college jazz ensembles who are ready for standard big band charts. This book pairs well with players developing from early intermediate to intermediate levels, offering real repertoire that teaches ensemble playing without overwhelming individual technique demands.

• Balance your tone against the first and second parts. You're often carrying inner harmony, so your attacks and releases need precision to blend without disappearing.
• Practice the swing feel separately from the written rhythms. Blues shuffle, straight eighths, and traditional swing all appear here, and context matters more than reading accuracy.
• Mark articulation patterns across similar passages before rehearsal. Consistency within a tune and across the set makes the section sound unified.
• Work on your solo passages at tempo with the rhythm section recording if available. Even third parts get moments to lead; commit to the melody when it's yours.

Use this as your core big band jazz ensemble repertoire for a full concert or festival program. The 15-tune collection gives you enough material to build a 45-minute set with variety in tempo and style, or pick individual tunes to mix with other arrangements.

• Reading jazz notation and swing articulation
• Ensemble balance and inner-harmony listening
• Phrasing and tone control in supported harmonic roles
• Managing multiple jazz feels (swing, blues, straight eighths)
• Section cohesion and unified articulation
• Responding to arrangement cues and section leadership