Jazz Venture: 2nd E-flat Alto Saxophone
By Steve Hodges
Grade: 2
Item: 00-PC-0019339_AX2
$3.00
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Description
The concert band can venture into the jazz idiom with Jazz Venture by Steve Hodges. This energetic, fun piece has a solid bass line and well-defined articulations that enhance the jazz experience. Featured soloists have the opportunity to showcase their creativity. An excellent jazz addition to the concert band library! (2:30)
The PerformancePlus+ series is an innovative addition to the ever-expanding MakeMusic Cloud interactive library. These engaging selections are presented with educational resources designed to enrich the rehearsal process and create outstanding performances. Including:
The PerformancePlus+ series is an innovative addition to the ever-expanding MakeMusic Cloud interactive library. These engaging selections are presented with educational resources designed to enrich the rehearsal process and create outstanding performances. Including:
- Assignment, recording, and assessment tools within MakeMusic Cloud
- Piece-specific exercises focused on skills and techniques
- Educational tips and suggestions to support learning
Available in print and digital formats.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Jazz Venture: 2nd E-flat Alto Saxophone comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Concert Band - PerformancePlus+
Publisher:
Alfred Music
SKU:
00-PC-0019339_AX2
More about this title
About the Composer: Steve Hodges
Steve Hodges holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Western Oregon University and a Master of Music Education from Central Washington University. Over four decades, he directed bands, choirs, and chamber ensembles across public school systems, retiring with a deep understanding of what works in the rehearsal room at every level.
Since 1986, Hodges has published more than 120 concert band compositions through Alfred Music, along with choral arrangements issued by Staff Music and Shawnee Press. His works have appeared at festivals and state music conventions worldwide, and he has completed commissions for honor bands and schools in Virginia, Iowa, Winnipeg, British Columbia, Oregon, Washington, and North Carolina. His music has also been featured on TBS and ESPN programming. A member of ASCAP, Hodges now resides in The Dalles, Oregon, where he remains active in community music and takes particular delight in hearing his grandchildren perform his compositions in their school bands.
Why we love this
Hodges writes with a keen ear for what band students actually enjoy playing. The solid bass line and crisp articulations give even Grade 2 musicians a genuine jazz feel, and the featured solo passages make young soloists sound prepared and confident without requiring years of jazz experience. This is the rare piece that feels fun to rehearse and rewarding to perform.
What to expect
Jazz Venture has the propulsive energy of a upbeat jazz number, anchored by a walking bass that makes the harmonic motion clear even to younger musicians. The well-defined articulations give students a tactile sense of jazz language, and the solo spotlights invite individual voices to shine while the ensemble supports them with forward-moving accompaniment.
Who it's for
Band directors seeking an engaging, teachable introduction to jazz style for Grade 2 ensembles. This piece works equally well for directors building a jazz unit in concert band literature and for those looking to feature promising young soloists in a full ensemble setting.
How to get the most out of it
- Lock the rhythm section first. The bass line anchors the jazz groove; get your low reeds and tubas aligned before layering articulations into the ensemble.
- Shape the featured solos with dynamic support from the band. Let the solo voices emerge naturally rather than pulling them artificially high.
- Clarify the articulation markings throughout. Jazz style depends on exact tonguing and separation; use ensemble drill passages to ensure consistent articulation across sections.
- Lean into the groove rather than rushing it. A relaxed, swung feel at the printed tempo will land much better than a stiff, pushed reading.
How to use it
Program this as a concert band festival piece or as a standalone concert selection that gives audiences a taste of jazz without venturing into overly complex harmonic territory. It pairs well alongside traditional concert band repertoire in a mixed program, offering stylistic variety while remaining accessible to Grade 2 musicians.
Skills your students will build
- Jazz articulation and tonguing (staccato and legato in swing style)
- Ensemble listening and rhythmic unity in a groove-based context
- Solo improvisation and featured melody performance over a walking bass
- Swung rhythms and jazz phrasing with natural breath and phrasing
- Dynamic balance between solo voices and ensemble accompaniment