Exciting Sounds of the Big Band Era: 4th Trumpet Book

These standards swing with infectious energy and straightforward charm. The fourth trumpet voice rides the backbone of classic big band writing, delivering the harmonic weight that lets the lead soar and the section breathe as one.

Jazz ensemble directors building a library of accessible big band repertoire and fourth trumpet players ready to shoulder the responsibility of the middle voice. Intermediate players who have solid fundamentals and swing feel will find plenty of satisfying material here.

• Balance your tone with the lead and second trumpet parts; you're the harmonic anchor, so commit fully to each note without trying to overshadow the melody line.
• Listen closely to the rhythm section for groove and pocket, especially on shuffles and swing feels where the backbeat drives the ensemble sound.
• Mark your dynamics carefully across all 15 tunes; the difference between a swell section and a punctuation note requires clear communication with your stand partner and the players around you.

Build a full big band concert by programming several of these tunes in sequence, or space them throughout a season as approachable warm-up material that challenges intonation and blend without demanding special arrangements. These titles are crowd-pleasers that audiences recognize instantly.

• Reading jazz notation and articulation styles across 15 contrasting standards
• Balancing tone and intonation within a four-part trumpet section
• Swinging eighth notes and maintaining consistent groove with rhythm section
• Playing supporting harmonic roles while maintaining musical presence
• Navigating key changes and transposition across multiple tunes