In The Stone Sheet Music Preview

In The Stone: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

By Allee Willis / By David Foster / By Maurice White / As performed by Earth, Wind Fire / Arranged by Paul Murtha

Grade: 4

Item: 35-PK00159826

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$55.00

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Description
With no solos required, only a solid driving rhythmic groove, here is an authentic-sounding version of this Earth, Wind Fire classic. Trombones are featured on the melody and all the signature horn riffs from the original are beautifully captured. Guaranteed fun!

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Additional Details
Publisher: Hal Leonard
SKU: 35-PK00159826

More about this title

About the Composer: Allee Willis

Allee Willis was a prolific songwriter and producer who shaped the sound of pop and R&B across multiple decades. Her collaborations with Earth, Wind & Fire and other major artists demonstrated her gift for crafting memorable hooks and infectious grooves that remain instantly recognizable.

Why we love this

Paul Murtha's arrangement strips away the need for soloists and builds the entire piece around a relentless rhythmic engine, making it accessible for ensembles still developing improvisational chops. The horn section gets to deliver those iconic riffs in unison, which means every player feels the satisfaction of playing something famous and recognizable without requiring advanced harmonic independence.

What to expect

Propulsive and irresistible. From the opening beats, this arrangement establishes a hypnotic groove that pulls listeners into its orbit. The trombone carries you forward with confident melodic statements while the full section riffs punctuate and reinforce the momentum underneath.

Who it's for

This works beautifully for Grade 4 jazz ensembles looking for contemporary material that sounds professional and polished without requiring complex solo sections. Directors can confidently program it for students who know the original song, which gives them instant buy-in and motivation.

How to get the most out of it

  • Lock the rhythm section (drums, bass, piano) into a completely locked pocket before layering in the horn parts. This arrangement lives or dies on groove, not technical complexity.
  • Balance the trombone melody against the harmonic content underneath so the horns cut through without drowning out the supporting voices.
  • Lean into the swing feel on the signature riffs; Earth, Wind & Fire's original has a slightly laid-back pocket that separates this from straight eighths.
  • Keep dynamics consistent throughout the driving sections rather than adding romantic swells. The power of this tune comes from relentless energy.

How to use it

Place this in a spring or winter jazz concert to energize the audience after more introspective pieces. The recognizable source material makes it an excellent choice for a school assembly or community event where you want to demonstrate that your jazz ensemble plays music people actually know and love.

Skills your students will build

  • Maintaining a consistent groove under harmonic and melodic layers
  • Balancing section melody (trombone) with supporting horn riffs
  • Playing swing-inflected rhythms with precision and pocket
  • Reading and executing tight unison passages in the horn section
  • Responding to dynamic control without losing rhythmic integrity

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