Just 'Cuz: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score

Rick Hirsch has crafted a chart that sounds far more sophisticated than its Grade 2 designation suggests. The written-out solos across multiple instruments give every section member a moment to shine, and the groove at 132 BPM sits right in that sweet spot where the ensemble locks in without strain. Directors will appreciate the flexibility built into the arrangement: it works beautifully at full strength but adapts gracefully to different instrumentation.

The title says it all: this chart has an unburdened, groove-centered energy that makes jazz feel like pure fun. A rock sensibility drives the harmonic movement, and at 132 BPM the ensemble can lock into a pocket that feels contemporary and alive without demanding virtuosity.

Medium-easy jazz ensembles that want accessible but genuinely entertaining material. Players at the Grade 2 level will find the range and rhythmic demands manageable, while the modern rock idiom and built-in solo opportunities keep the experience engaging for conductors and musicians alike.

• Balance the rock pocket against the written trumpet 1 line at the top of the staff. The chart thrives when the rhythm section anchors the groove while the trumpets sit cleanly on top.
• Encourage soloists to own the written material rather than treat it as a skeleton. Hirsch's solo sections are crafted with specific harmonic and melodic intent, so precision in execution will highlight the solo voice.
• Keep the forward energy consistent through all three minutes and twenty-seven seconds. A chart this fun can tip toward rushing if the ensemble senses the groove; lock the tempo early and trust the pocket.

Program this near the end of a jazz concert when the ensemble is confident and the audience is warmed up. It pairs naturally with other accessible, groove-oriented charts in the Grade 2-3 range and serves as an excellent confidence builder for younger ensembles stepping into rock-influenced jazz literature.

• Reading and executing rock rhythms in jazz context
• Balancing section blend when melody sits in trumpet voices
• Performing written solos with style and precision
• Maintaining steady tempo in groove-centered music
• Understanding trumpet range and tessitura considerations (written G as structural ceiling)