Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band Play-Along Series: Alto Saxophone: Alto Saxophone Book & Online Audio/Software

This series offers something rare at the intermediate level: direct access to how a working big band saxophonist actually approaches these tunes. The inclusion of transcribed solos from the recorded players and chord changes specifically notated for improvisation means your students aren't just reading parts in isolation. They're learning the language of the band by listening, playing alongside professionals, and having real models to study.

Stepping into a professional big band section. You hear the lush harmony, the crisp articulation, the interplay between voices, and the leadership of a seasoned lead player. These ten charts swing hard, groove with precision, and demand attention to detail. There's swagger here, but also substance: Latin feels, blues changes, and moments where you get to express yourself over the band's support.

Alto saxophonists at grades 5-6 who are ready to explore jazz phrasing, articulation, and improvisation in a real big band setting. This works well for students interested in jazz as a primary focus or for intermediate ensemble players who want to deepen their musicianship beyond classical reading.

• Listen to the full recording once before playing along. Pay special attention to how the lead alto sits in the section and the exact articulation choices Marienthal makes on swing figures versus straight-eighth feel.
• When improvising over the chord changes, start by comp-focused solos from the book first. This trains your ear to recognize the harmonic movement before you attempt your own ideas.
• Engage the online software's tempo control to isolate sections. Lock the Latin grooves and swing styles at slower speeds, then gradually match the recorded band's performance tempo.
• Track your tone consistency across registers as you move through different musical contexts. The variety of styles in these ten tunes reveals exactly where your sound needs refinement.

This works as a standalone jazz elective or as supplementary material for students in your jazz ensemble. Program selections individually in jazz concerts, or use them as technical studies throughout the year to build facility with standard big band voicings and improvisation practices. The transcribed solos also serve as reference recordings for any saxophonist studying jazz language.

• Phrasing and articulation in swing and Latin contexts
• Improvisation over chord changes in a big band setting
• Reading and executing big band saxophone voicings
• Listening and responding to ensemble tone and balance
• Dynamics and tone control across multiple registers
• Recognizing and executing stylistic differences (swing, Latin, straight-eighth feels)
• Analyzing transcribed solos from professional saxophonists