Feelin' the Funk: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score

$6.00 USD

Feelin' the Funk: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score

Name: Feelin' the Funk: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 98-JE4137S
Price: 6.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Erik Morales

Grade: 3

Item: 98-JE4137S

$6.00

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Inspired by the great James Brown and groups like Tower of Power, this stellar chart also uses an undeniably New Orleans-style melody. There are plenty of opportunities to show off your drummer, including a huge ending where drums and guitar jam completely independently of horns. A flashy horn soli and a classic James Brown ending will make this one of the most entertaining pieces on your program!

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Series: FJH Intermediate Jazz Ensemble

Publisher: The FJH Music Company, Inc.

UPC: 241444609194

SKU: 98-JE4137S

More about this title

About the Composer: Erik Morales

Erik Morales has established himself as a prolific composer working across classical, jazz, and commercial idioms since the mid-1980s. Born in New York City in 1966, he studied composition at Florida International University and earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Louisiana, Lafayette in 1989. His entry into the publishing world came through arranging work for his high school marching band in south Florida; that early assignment evolved into a sustained career in educational music. Since 2002, his works for wind, jazz, string, and chamber ensembles have circulated globally through major publishers.

With trumpet as his primary instrument, Morales has shaped the contemporary trumpet repertoire significantly. His trumpet ensemble works have earned first-place finishes at the 2006 and 2008 National Trumpet Competitions, and his Concerto for Trumpet in C and Piano premiered at the 2009 International Trumpet Guild conference. A 2016 inductee into the Louisiana Association for Jazz Education's Hall of Fame, Morales continues to balance artistic ambition with pedagogical clarity across more than 150 published compositions. Schools and organizations nationwide commission new works from him regularly.

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Why we love this

This chart nails the balance between authentic funk vocabulary and ensemble teachability. The drum feature at the end gives your rhythm section a genuine moment to shine, and the New Orleans melodic flavor sets it apart from the generic funk charts that fill most libraries. Audiences respond immediately to the energy and confidence of the writing.

What to expect

Greasy and soulful, with the swagger of James Brown filtered through a New Orleans lens. The groove sits heavy in the bass and drums while the horns deliver sharp, syncopated hits that feel both playful and purposeful. By the end, when the drums and guitar step into the foreground, the energy explodes into something genuinely fun to hear.

Who it's for

Jazz ensemble directors leading Grade 3 groups who want a chart that balances genuine funk vocabulary with clear pedagogical wins. Players at this level can handle the ensemble coordination and style demands, and your soloists will gain confidence from the straightforward but effective writing.

How to get the most out of it

Lock the kick drum and bass guitar into a tight pocket before rehearsing the horns; once that foundation feels locked in, layer the rest of the ensemble on top.
Give your drummer freedom during the ending jam, but establish clear chord changes and length boundaries so the groove holds together as an ensemble moment, not a solo.
Emphasize the swing and pocket in the horn soli rather than rushing; the New Orleans influence lives in the space between the notes.
Bring out the guitar's rhythmic counterpoint throughout, especially in the verses where it supports but never competes with the bass line.

How to use it

Program this as an opener or closer on a jazz concert; its immediate energy and crowd-friendly vibe work perfectly in either slot. It pairs well alongside more lyrical or complex pieces, offering contrast and lift without sounding out of place on a serious jazz program.