La Suerte de los Tontos: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts
By Johnny Richards / arr. Victor López
Grade: 3 (Medium)
Item: 00-PK-0007273
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Description
Victor López, who knows the Latin idiom inside and out, has given us a powerhouse 6/8 Latin chart that will make your ensemble sound like the Kenton Band. Majestic, powerful and noble! Included solo space for tenor sax (written) and an optional Latin percussion part. This is a must-have chart. (3:44) This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, La Suerte de los Tontos: 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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Additional Details
Series:
Jazz Band Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
102
SKU:
00-PK-0007273
More about this title
About the Composer: Johnny Richards
Johnny Richards (1911-1968) was a composer and arranger who shaped the sound of modern jazz big band writing. His work with Stan Kenton's orchestra helped define the progressive jazz movement of the 1950s, where he contributed arrangements and compositions that blended classical sophistication with jazz vocabulary. Richards had a gift for crafting ensemble textures that sounded both ambitious and singable, qualities that made his charts essential repertoire for serious jazz programs.
Why we love this
Victor López's arrangement channels the orchestral weight and harmonic sophistication that made Kenton's band legendary, yet the chart sits comfortably at Grade 3. The 6/8 Latin feel gives your ensemble a rhythmic anchor that's energizing without being gimmicky, and the writing distributes solo space and sectional moments so every section gets something meaningful to play. This is the kind of piece that sounds twice as difficult as it actually is.
What to expect
Stately and swaggering at once. The 6/8 Latin meter gives the piece a rolling, majestic quality that feels noble without pretension, while the Kenton-influenced orchestration surrounds you with rich harmonic colors and dynamic momentum. The tenor saxophone floats over it all with room to breathe and shine.
Who it's for
Jazz ensembles at the intermediate level looking for repertoire with real ensemble sophistication and professional sound. Directors preparing for contests, festivals, or concerts where a showpiece with substance and swing will resonate with both performers and audiences.
How to get the most out of it
- Lock the rhythm section (bass, drums, piano) into the 6/8 pulse first; once that pocket is solid, the horns will sit naturally in the groove.
- Balance the tenor saxophone solo against the ensemble background by having the rhythm section play with restraint rather than pulling back the soloist.
- Shape the dynamic arc across the whole performance rather than playing every section at full volume; the piece's majesty comes from contrast.
- Highlight the optional Latin percussion part if your ensemble has capable players; it adds authentic color and lifts the ensemble sound considerably.
How to use it
This works as a centerpiece in a concert built around Latin jazz, or as a standalone opener or closer that leaves audiences impressed with your ensemble's sophistication. Its three-minute-forty-four-second runtime fits naturally into festival sets, and its Grade 3 accessibility means you can program it without sacrificing other important repertoire.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and performing in 6/8 meter with jazz phrasing
- Balancing ensemble textures with featured soloists
- Latin rhythmic vocabulary and feel (guajira/mambo inflection)
- Big band sectional blend and intonation in close voicings
- Responding to dynamic shaping and orchestral architecture in jazz writing