Hunting Wabbits: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

Goodwin's arranging style merges legitimate big band writing with aggressive swing energy, creating charts that feel both sophisticated and wildly entertaining. The tongue-in-cheek cartoon concept gives your ensemble permission to play with personality and humor without sacrificing musical substance, and the recorded performance by his own Big Phat Band serves as an invaluable reference for authentic interpretation.

Hunting Wabbits bounces between cartoon mischief and genuine swing power, keeping listeners off balance in the best way. The piece zips along with playful energy while maintaining the sophisticated harmonic language and orchestration you expect from Goodwin's pen.

This chart demands an experienced jazz ensemble with strong soloists on soprano sax, tenor sax, trumpet, and trombone. Your band should have the ensemble cohesion to execute tight unison passages and the musical maturity to handle both precise ensemble writing and extended solo sections.

• Balance the soprano sax lead against the ensemble; this voice must cut through clearly since it carries much of the chart's character and melodic identity.
• Shape the a cappella sections with precision and rhythmic conviction. These unaccompanied moments demand ensemble unity and require careful attention to intonation without instrumental anchor.
• Give soloists room to breathe during their featured passages. Mark clear entry and exit points in rehearsal so the band can support without overshadowing individual voices.
• Listen closely to the Silverline Records recording for phrasing, articulation, and swing feel. Goodwin's Big Phat Band interpretation reveals interpretive details that printed notation alone cannot convey.

This is a natural choice for concert and festival programming with advanced groups seeking a show-stopping closer that works equally well for competition adjudication. The roughly six-minute duration and high entertainment value make it ideal for spring concerts when audiences expect both polish and fun.

• Soprano saxophone doubling and lead voice independence
• A cappella section control (intonation, ensemble balance, rhythmic cohesion without accompaniment)
• Jazz phrasing and swing interpretation aligned with recorded references
• Solo construction and improvisation across multiple instruments and ranges
• Reading complex big band textures with countermelodic activity and tutti passages