First Year Charts Collection for Jazz Ensemble: 3rd B-flat Trumpet Book

Accessible and supportive. The parts rest comfortably in the middle register, giving third trumpet players room to focus on blend, intonation, and rhythmic precision rather than range anxiety. Across swing grooves, holiday warmth, and rock-influenced charts, the writing feels balanced and full without requiring soloistic heroics.

Third trumpet players in beginning to early-intermediate jazz ensembles who need straightforward, singable parts that develop section awareness without overwhelming technical demands. This book serves ensembles building their first jazz library and working toward confident public performance.

• Balance your trumpet section voicings by bringing the third trumpet line forward during tutti passages; the middle voice often carries harmonic weight that anchors the section's sound.
• Lock in with the trombone section during the swing charts by listening for where their voice crosses or parallels yours; the brass blend tightens when lines move together rhythmically.
• Mark breath points clearly in advance, especially on back-to-back phrases in the faster uptempo arrangements, so you're not caught without air during ensemble sections.
• Treat the written-out solos as learning opportunities for phrasing and articulation; practicing them builds vocabulary you'll use when improvisation becomes part of your toolkit.

Start with 'Loosen Up' as a rehearsal opener to establish breathing and articulation habits across the year. Layer these charts across fall and winter programs, using the stylistic variety to showcase different rehearsal focuses: swing charts for rhythm section coordination, ballads for tone development, and holiday tunes for December concerts. The recognizable melodies also make engaging material for informal performances or jazz assembly programs.

• reading jazz rhythmic notation (swing eighths, syncopation, stop-time figures)
• playing in the middle trumpet register with secure intonation
• blending as a section voice (third trumpet harmonic function)
• listening to rhythm section groove and locking in with tempo
• articulation control across multiple jazz styles
• sight-reading in jazz ensemble contexts