Jazz Sonata: E-flat Alto or Baritone Saxophone & Piano Conductor Score, Parts & CD

Ricker crafts three distinct movements that each stand alone yet form a cohesive arc, making this work equally valuable for a single recital performance or a full concert presentation. The inclusion of play-along and complete recorded versions with professional musicians gives students immediate access to high-quality reference performances, removing the usual barrier of finding a capable accompanist during the learning process.

The sonata unfolds as a journey through contrasting emotional landscapes, beginning with an unsettling, rhythmically complex introduction, settling into the intimate vulnerability of a jazz ballad, and culminating in a virtuosic dance that blends waltz elegance with driving contemporary energy. Throughout, the saxophone and piano engage in genuine dialogue rather than accompaniment.

Advanced high school saxophonists and college students who are serious about both jazz language and classical technique. This work demands fluency in two musical worlds and rewards performers who can navigate rubato, swing feels, and lyrical expression with equal conviction.

• Study both the play-along and complete versions on the CD before rehearsing with your pianist; the recorded performances model phrasing, articulation choices, and the balance between classical and jazz vocabulary that makes this music effective.
• In the ballad movement, treat the jazz vocabulary (swing feel, blues inflections) as compositional instruction, not as license to improvise; Ricker's notational choices are intentional.
• Work the rhythmic independence between saxophone and piano in the outer movements carefully; the interplay between classical meter and jazz phrasing requires precise ensemble listening.

This works beautifully as a centerpiece for a solo recital, either programming all three movements together or selecting individual movements to pair with other repertoire. It also serves well in a concert designed around jazz-classical fusion or in a competition or festival setting where you want to showcase both technical command and stylistic range.

• Swing articulation and jazz phrasing conventions
• Executing written jazz rhythmic figures with precision
• Transitioning between classical and jazz interpretive approaches
• Ensemble balance and dialogue with a piano partner
• Reading and executing contemporary classical notation alongside jazz vocabulary