Los Changos Volando: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

$48.00 USD

Los Changos Volando: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Los Changos Volando: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-41167
Price: 48.00 USD
Availability: InStock

(The Flying Monkeys)

By Mike Dana

Grade: 2 (Medium Easy)

Item: 00-41167

$48.00

Shipped

One moment…

Yes, the title is "The Flying Monkeys." The groove is solid at 156 BPM: a Latin groove with optional percussion and vibes, two solo sections with written solos provided for any instrument, a big modulation, and even some band vocals. Check it out, you'll go . . . ape over this chart. (4:18) 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, Los Changos Volando: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

Open in the Player

Jump straight in and assign it today.

Start Your Free Trial

Open this title and explore the full library in minutes.

No sample videos found.

Series: Young Jazz Ensemble

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 122

UPC: 038081474625

SKU: 00-41167

More about this title

About the Composer: Mike Dana

Mike Dana combines performing experience at the highest levels with a deep commitment to jazz education. A guitarist who has worked alongside Cannonball Adderley, Gary Burton, Robin Eubanks, and other jazz masters, Dana has also served as a U.S. State Department Cultural Envoy, bringing American jazz to audiences in Thailand and beyond. His work at Fresno City College as Director of Jazz Studies shaped emerging ensembles, and he continues teaching through Jazz Education Abroad, where he performs and instructs in Lebanon, Cyprus, China, Hong Kong, and Thailand.

Dana's compositions appear through major publishers including Alfred Music, Kendor, Jazzlines, UNC Jazz Press, and Heritage Music Press, performed by ensembles worldwide. He has received commissions from the JEN Conference, the Taipei Jazz Orchestra, Azusa Pacific University, and numerous high schools. Named California Jazz Educator of the Year and inducted into the California Alliance for Jazz Hall of Fame, Dana brings both artistic credibility and pedagogical insight to every chart he writes.

Show moreShow less

Why we love this

Dana writes for young ensembles with genuine fun and musical substance. The Latin groove sits comfortably at Medium Easy level while keeping players engaged through written solo sections, a satisfying key change, and the novelty of band vocals, making this chart equally at home in a festival setting or a concert that celebrates what your ensemble can actually accomplish.

What to expect

Bright, propulsive, and playful. The steady Latin pulse at 156 BPM gives the ensemble something solid to lock into, while the two solo sections invite individual voices to shine. The key modulation lifts the energy in the final section, and the band vocals add personality and humor, making this chart feel like a celebration rather than a technical exercise.

Who it's for

Jazz ensembles at the high school and college level who are ready for straightforward Latin feel and small-group arranging details without heavy harmonic complexity. The Medium Easy grade makes this accessible to younger groups while the solos and modulation keep more experienced players interested.

How to get the most out of it

Lock the rhythm section early. The 156 BPM Latin groove only swings if the drums, bass, and piano players find their pocket together before the ensemble jumps in.
Give soloists breathing room. Whether using the written solos or encouraging improvisation, establish the form clearly in rehearsal so soloists know exactly when to enter and exit.
Balance the vocals carefully. Blend the band vocals as rhythmic, textural elements rather than as lead melody, letting them sit in the pocket with the groove.

How to use it

This is an excellent mid-season or festival piece that gives your ensemble a credible jazz chart without the rehearsal burden of advanced harmonic material. The clear form, written solos, and energetic groove make it rewarding to develop over several weeks, and its contest-ready polish makes it a natural fit for jazz festivals or spring concerts.