Hurricane Season: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

John Wasson's arrangement captures the infectious energy of Trombone Shorty's original without sacrificing the compositional clarity your ensemble needs to execute it well. The interplay between full band explosions and locked-in groove sections gives students real stakes in their individual parts: they either drive the rhythm or punctuate it, and both roles demand attention.

There's an immediate sense of celebration in this tune, that second line swagger where the band swaggers forward with purpose. The arrangement moves between moments of unbridled energy and controlled tension, giving performers space to breathe while keeping the audience engaged from start to finish.

Grade 4 jazz ensembles ready to perform something with genuine groove and contemporary relevance. Your students don't need a classical foundation to succeed here; they need rhythmic confidence and the ability to listen to one another.

• Listen to the original recording multiple times before the first rehearsal. Your students need to hear what a second line feels like in their bones, not just in their heads.
• Emphasize the difference between the screaming riffs and the simmering sections through dynamics and articulation. If they blur together, the arrangement loses its architecture.
• Lock the rhythm section (bass, drums, piano if included) first. Once they have the pulse nailed, the horns will find their pocket much faster.
• Pay special attention to the ensemble's blend during the riffs. Tight articulation and balanced voicing make these moments hit harder.

Pair this with other contemporary jazz or funk works to show students that ensemble playing extends far beyond the swing repertoire. It also works brilliantly as an opener at jazz festivals or spring concerts where you want to establish energy early and keep the audience invested.

• Ensemble balance and blend within fast, densely voiced riffs
• Second line rhythmic feel and syncopation
• Dynamic contrast between sectional peaks and grooves
• Listening and responding to rhythm section pocket
• Part independence while maintaining ensemble cohesion