Hangin' with My Peeps: Piano Accompaniment
By Kris Berg
Grade: 3.5 (Medium)
Item: 00-PC-0017255_K
$3.00
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Description
This chart is officially funky. Mr. Berg brings back the chicken-themed groove at a tempo of 106 BPM. Includes a written or ad-lib tenor solo, an optional guitar solos and the lead trumpet range is to written B-flat. The chart also has optional parts to include vibraphone and flute. The band will dig the solid funky groove!
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Hangin' with My Peeps: Piano Accompaniment comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
Jazz Band Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
98
SKU:
00-PC-0017255_K
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 as a composer and arranger has reached audiences worldwide; his charts are performed and recorded across the globe, and he has appeared as a clinician alongside artists including Kurt Elling, Randy Brecker, Peter Erskine, and Bob Mintzer. Berg founded both the Collin Jazz Fest and the Texas All-Star Jazz Camp, and under his leadership the Collin jazz ensembles have earned multiple invitations to perform at the Montreux Jazz Festival.
As a best-selling big band arranger and composer for Belwin Jazz (Alfred Publishing), Berg brings both pedagogical insight and professional polish to every score he writes. He authored the method book Bass Lines in Minutes and maintains an active clinician role with Yamaha Corporation of America. His endorsements include Walter Woods Amplifiers, reflecting his deep involvement in the jazz community as both educator and performing artist.
Why we love this
Berg writes grooves that stick with your ensemble long after rehearsal ends. The funky, chicken-themed concept gives the chart personality without sacrificing real musicianship, and the optional instrumentation (vibraphone, flute, guitar solos) means you can scale this to match your specific band lineup while keeping the pocket intact.
What to expect
Funky, approachable, and genuinely fun to play. The chicken-themed concept gives the chart immediate character, but the solid groove and Berg's professional arranging sensibility keep it grounded. Students feel the pocket right away, which builds ensemble confidence.
Who it's for
Jazz ensembles at the intermediate level (grades 8-12, early college) looking for a high-energy, accessible chart with real contemporary voice. This works especially well for groups with developing soloists who need a supportive groove and flexible instrumentation options.
How to get the most out of it
- Lock the rhythm section into the 106 BPM groove early in rehearsal; this chart lives or dies by how solid the drums, bass, and comping instruments lock together.
- Feature the tenor solo prominently during dress rehearsals so the soloist has stage confidence; whether they choose written or ad-lib, make sure they know the band has their back.
- Balance the optional parts carefully: if you add vibraphone and flute, adjust dynamic expectations so the lead trumpet's written B-flat range cuts through without strain.
- Use the optional guitar solo as a moment to let that player shine, but rehearse the band's response so they don't lose the groove while listening.
How to use it
Program this as an opener or mid-set energizer at a jazz concert to set a relaxed, modern tone. It pairs well alongside standards and more introspective pieces, giving the audience a breather while showcasing your ensemble's groove chops and your soloists' personalities.
Skills your students will build
- Playing in and maintaining a funk groove at a fixed tempo
- Supporting and responding to tenor and optional guitar soloists
- Balancing ensemble dynamics across optional instrumentation
- Reading and executing contemporary jazz rhythmic figures and syncopation
- Comping and rhythm section coordination (drums, bass, piano, guitar)