Los changos volando: 4th B-flat Trumpet
(The Flying Monkeys)
By Mike Dana
Grade: 2 (Medium Easy)
Item: 00-PC-0016295_T4
$3.00
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Description
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: 4th B-flat Trumpet 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:
Young Jazz Ensemble
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
122
SKU:
00-PC-0016295_T4
More about this title
About the Composer: Mike Dana
Mike Dana is a composer and guitarist whose work spans education, performance, and cultural exchange across multiple continents. A former Director of Jazz Studies at Fresno City College, he now serves as faculty with Jazz Education Abroad, where he performs and teaches throughout Lebanon, Cyprus, China, Hong Kong, and Thailand. His compositions appear in catalogs from Alfred Music, Kendor, Jazzlines, UNC Jazz Press, and Heritage Music Press, and have been commissioned by organizations ranging from the JEN Conference to the Taipei Jazz Orchestra.
Dana's performance credits include work with major jazz artists such as Cannonball Adderley, Gary Burton, and Bob Mintzer, and he has represented the United States as a Cultural Envoy to Thailand with the Allison Miller Quartet. His contributions to jazz education earned him recognition as California Jazz Educator of the Year and induction into the California Alliance for Jazz Hall of Fame.
Why we love this
Dana writes with genuine accessibility for developing ensembles without sacrificing groove or excitement. The combination of a locked Latin feel, flexible solo sections (written or open), and built-in crowd energy through band vocals makes this chart work equally well at a festival or as a high-energy concert closer. Young players hear sophisticated harmony and rhythm without getting lost in the charts.
What to expect
Infectious and playful, with a bouncing Latin groove that keeps forward momentum throughout. The written-in solos give the chart personality and space to breathe, while the modulation and band vocals create an arc that feels both accessible and genuinely fun to perform.
Who it's for
Grade 2 jazz ensembles ready to tackle authentic Latin feels and simple ensemble textures without complex voicings or extended technique. This works for groups with 1-2 years of jazz ensemble experience and at least one competent soloist per section.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish the clave pattern in rehearsal before the full ensemble locks in. The Latin groove sits on a foundation of clear percussion and rhythm section; spending time here pays dividends in feel and precision.
- Feature the written solos prominently during rehearsals so each soloist has ownership of their passage. Even if the arrangement allows improvisation, the written solos provide scaffolding that keeps newer improvisers confident.
- Balance the band vocals so they sit comfortably beneath the groove without overwhelming the instrumental texture. These sections should feel like part of the ensemble, not a novelty.
- Use the tempo marking of 156 BPM as a starting point, not a ceiling. Rehearse at a slightly slower tempo to ensure clarity of articulation in the rhythm section and parts, then build back to performance speed.
How to use it
Program this as a festival entry or as a mid-set energy boost at a jazz concert, especially in a lineup where you want to shift from ballad or swing contexts into something rhythmically grounded and immediately engaging. The title and content make it memorable enough to carry a set on its own.
Skills your students will build
- Latin groove fundamentals and rhythmic precision at a steady mid-tempo
- Basic jazz solo performance with written melodic reference
- Ensemble balance and texture control with multiple simultaneous elements (rhythm section, solos, band vocals)
- Reading and executing modern jazz articulation and phrasing in a Grade 2 context