Jazz Club: Trumpet Book & CD

Ned Bennett wrote these pieces specifically for the trumpet's voice, letting each style showcase what the instrument does best rather than forcing the trumpet into arrangements meant for other horns. The backing tracks are genuinely useful for solo practice and recital prep, giving students the experience of playing against a real rhythm section without needing a band.

A guided tour through five decades of jazz, each piece carrying its own character and flavor. You'll hear the swagger of one style, the smoothness of another, and the rhythmic snap of a third, all written to sit comfortably in a beginner's range while still capturing authentic jazz texture.

Beginning jazz trumpeters (grades 1-2) who are ready to move beyond fundamentals and explore real jazz vocabulary across multiple styles. These pieces work well for students in jazz band or private study who want solo recital material or concert features.

• Study the recorded accompaniment first to hear how the melody sits in the mix and where the accompaniment breathes. This informs your phrasing before you play along.
• Record yourself playing with the tracks and listen back. You'll catch timing issues and stylistic imbalances that are hard to hear in the moment.
• Balance volume and tone across different styles. Jazz articulation and projection differ significantly from classical; let each piece's idiom guide your approach.
• Mark key chord changes and form landmarks in your part so you can navigate independently if the track ever drops out during performance.

Feature one piece at a jazz band concert or winter recital, rotating styles across performances to show growth and breadth. These also work beautifully as solo spots in ensemble programs, letting a talented section player step into the spotlight while the rest of the trumpet section plays supporting material.

• jazz articulation and tonguing
• swing and straight-eighth feel differentiation
• playing over chord changes
• trumpet tone control across jazz styles
• syncopated rhythm reading
• phrase shaping and jazz rubato
• listening and ensemble balance with accompaniment