Feather Report: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score

$9.00 USD

Feather Report: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score

Name: Feather Report: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-29792S
Price: 9.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Kris Berg

Grade: 3 (Medium)

Item: 00-29792S

$9.00

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With the distinct flavor of the group Weather Report, writer Kris Berg continues his successful string of chicken-related jazz ensemble titles with Feather Report. A superb chart with a hip-hop/shuffle-swing kind of groove and a written-out tenor solo, although other players can handle the simple two-chord solo section. Some meter changes from 4 to 3 and back, but nothing dangerous. Lead trumpet range is to written A above the staff (optional C). Brass players have a tough blow in this one, but it's worth it. Very hip chart and another winner from Kris Berg. (6:17) This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.

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Series: Jazz Band Series

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 24

UPC: 038081320809

SKU: 00-29792S

More about this title

About the Composer: Kris Berg

Kris Berg directs the Jazz Studies program at Collin County Community College in Texas, where he earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees in jazz studies from the University of North Texas. His work has shaped the region's jazz education landscape; under his leadership, Collin's ensembles have earned multiple invitations to perform at the Montreux Jazz Festival, and he founded both the Collin Jazz Fest and the Texas All-Star Jazz Camp.

As a composer and arranger for Belwin Jazz, Berg's charts circulate internationally among working bands and educational ensembles. He has shared the stage and studio with major jazz figures including Kurt Elling, Randy Brecker, Peter Erskine, Bob Mintzer, and Clark Terry. Berg remains active as a clinician and artist for Yamaha Corporation and has authored instructional materials widely used in jazz curricula.

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Why we love this

Berg understands what makes a chart fun to play and rewarding to hear. The hip-hop/shuffle-swing groove anchors a straightforward harmonic landscape that lets soloists shine without wrestling with complex changes, while the optional written tenor solo and open solo section invite flexible instrumentation. Brass players get a genuine workout without gratuitous difficulty.

What to expect

Feather Report channels the fusion energy of Weather Report into a tight, grooved statement. The hip-hop/shuffle-swing pocket propels the chart forward with contemporary swagger, while the written tenor solo and open solo section create moments of both structure and spontaneity.

Who it's for

Jazz ensembles at the intermediate level ready to handle shuffle-swing grooves, simple harmonic vamps, and manageable meter shifts. Directors seeking a modern funk-influenced chart that doesn't demand virtuoso soloing from every player will find a confident vehicle here.

How to get the most out of it

Lock the shuffle-swing feel in the rhythm section first; once the pocket is secure, the horn lines land with much more confidence and definition.
Balance the groove against the written tenor solo by keeping accompaniment textures lean; let the soloist own the space rather than filling it.
Negotiate the meter changes (4/4 to 3/4 and back) during a full-ensemble run-through before sectionals, establishing clear visual cues from the conductor.
Manage the lead trumpet's high passage (written A above the staff) by checking endurance during warm-up and considering the optional C respelling if the ensemble's first chair prefers it.

How to use it

Program this as a showcase for your ensemble's rhythmic sophistication and small-group soloing strength; it pairs naturally with straightahead swing charts and modern funk pieces on a jazz concert. The six-minute-plus runtime gives it substance as a centerpiece number, and its approachable harmonic language means rehearsal time spent here pays off quickly.