Just Friends: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

$48.00 USD

Just Friends: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Just Friends: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-JEM01044
Price: 48.00 USD
Availability: InStock

Music by John Klenner, lyrics by Sam M. Lewis / arr. Joe Jackson

Grade: 3 (Medium)

Item: 00-JEM01044

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There's no way you won't swing on this jazz classic for the young player treated here in a Basie style. Arranger Joe Jackson took this standard and worked his magic to score it for the Jazz Band Series. Joe has included solos for piano and tenor sax, both with written solos provided, and an outstanding sax section soli. By the way, the suggested piano solo is just as the Count would have played it---tasty. This chart is nothing short of an education in big band. The way this chart builds intensity, the dynamics, the drum fills, and ensemble shout chorus are all textbook big band techniques. This chart will stand out in your library.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Just Friends: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

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Series: Jazz Band Series

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 108

UPC: 654979994428

SKU: 00-JEM01044

More about this title

About the Composer: John Klenner

John Klenner was a prolific songwriter and composer during the golden age of American popular song, contributing standards that became fixtures in the jazz repertoire. His melodies have provided the foundation for countless arrangements and improvisations, making his work essential study material for musicians exploring the Great American Songbook.

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Why we love this

Joe Jackson's arrangement channels the Count Basie sound with genuine big band architecture. You get textbook ensemble writing, dynamic clarity, and soloists stepping into authentic roles rather than playing over accompaniment. The piano and tenor sax solos are written out but sound like real choices, and the sax section work gives your section players something to sink their teeth into.

What to expect

Relaxed and sophisticated, with that effortless swing the Basie band perfected. The piece breathes between sections, lets soloists breathe, and builds to moments of collective power before pulling back. You hear how a great arranger uses space and dynamics to make swinging feel natural.

Who it's for

Jazz ensembles with advancing players who are ready to tackle section work and understand traditional big band voicing. This works for students who have solid fundamentals and want to learn how a standard becomes a vehicle for genuine ensemble interaction.

How to get the most out of it

Build the intensity gradually through the chart's structure rather than playing at a constant volume; let the arrangement's dynamics do the work for you.
Lock the rhythm section's pocket first before layering in the horns; the drum fills set up the shout chorus hits.
Shape the piano solo with the restraint and taste of the Count's own playing, treating space as carefully as notes.
Balance the tenor sax soloist clearly over the ensemble, especially during traded phrases with the sax section.

How to use it

Use this on a concert where you want to show your ensemble's command of real big band style and arrangement craft. It sits naturally alongside other standards in your jazz library and gives soloists a chance to shine on a piece with genuine history and structure.