Low Country Shuffle: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts
By Paul Murtha
Grade: 4
Item: 35-PK01275368
$55.00
Pickup currently not available
Buy Extra Parts (Digital PDF Download)
| Product | Price | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Low Country Shuffle - Conductor Score (Full Score) | $10.00 | |
| Low Country Shuffle - Alto Sax 1 | $6.00 | |
| Low Country Shuffle - Alto Sax 2 | $6.00 | |
| Low Country Shuffle - Tenor Sax 1 | $6.00 | |
| Low Country Shuffle - Tenor Sax 2 | $6.00 | |
| Low Country Shuffle - Baritone Sax | $6.00 | |
| Low Country Shuffle - Trumpet 1 | $6.00 | |
| Low Country Shuffle - Trumpet 2 | $6.00 | |
| Low Country Shuffle - Trumpet 3 | $6.00 | |
| Low Country Shuffle - Trumpet 4 | $6.00 | |
| Low Country Shuffle - Trombone 1 | $6.00 | |
| Low Country Shuffle - Trombone 2 | $6.00 | |
| Low Country Shuffle - Trombone 3 | $6.00 | |
| Low Country Shuffle - Trombone 4 | $6.00 | |
| Low Country Shuffle - Guitar | $6.00 | |
| Low Country Shuffle - Piano | $6.00 | |
| Low Country Shuffle - Bass | $6.00 | |
| Low Country Shuffle - Drums | $6.00 |
Parts Added to Cart!
Description
This appealing blues chart opens with the rhythm section a laid-back 2-beat style, but quickly moves to a rockin' shuffle with plenty of attitude. This style alternates with a straight ahead swing feel with each section of the band finding its own space to shine. Included are solos for tenor and trumpet, or really anyone who wants to join the fun. A new key and full ensemble shout chorus drives it home!
Low Country Shuffle: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.
Request This Title
Tell us you want it.
Start Your Free Trial
Explore everything that's ready to play right now.
Sample Audio
No sample audio found.
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK01275368
More about this title
About the Composer: Paul Murtha
Paul Murtha has spent decades writing accessible jazz and popular music for student ensembles. His charts balance stylistic authenticity with the realities of school music programs, making professional-sounding arrangements that don't require virtuosos to execute well.
Murtha understands what works in the rehearsal room. His voicings sit well across the range of standard jazz instrumentation, and his melodies stick with students long after they've learned the charts. He's become a go-to composer for directors seeking material that teaches genuine musicianship while keeping energy high.
Why we love this
The structural design here is deliberately smart: moving between 2-beat and shuffle to straight swing creates natural energy shifts that keep both players and listeners engaged. You get multiple solo opportunities, which means more students get moments to develop their improvisational voice, and the ensemble shout chorus at the end in a new key gives everyone a satisfying finish that feels earned.
What to expect
Low Country Shuffle captures the swagger of a good blues jam session. The shuffle feel hits with attitude and accessibility in equal measure, while the shifts between feels keep the music from settling into predictability. There's genuine humor and personality here, the kind of groove that makes rehearsal feel less like work.
Who it's for
Grade 4 jazz ensembles ready for something beyond straight blues or swing, but not yet dealing with extended harmony or angular writing. This works especially well for programs where you have a handful of confident soloists but need the ensemble to carry the weight of the arrangement musically.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish the laid-back 2-beat pocket first in sectional rehearsals before introducing the shuffle feel. Lock the rhythm section on this transition; it's the hinge of the entire arrangement.
- Encourage soloists to think in call-and-response phrases rather than trying to fill the entire chorus. Space and silence are just as musical as the notes themselves.
- Balance transparency during solo sections. The comping band shouldn't compete with whoever's taking the lead; pull back dynamically while staying locked in time.
How to use it
Drop this into a jazz concert as an opener or closer depending on program flow. Its accessible blues foundation makes it strong material for recruiting less experienced jazz students, since it sounds professional without demanding advanced reading or improvisation skills upfront. It also pairs well on a program mixing jazz styles, giving you a clear stylistic anchor in American roots music.
Skills your students will build
- Distinguishing between 2-beat and shuffle feels within a single piece
- Trading 8- and 16-bar solo phrases with rhythm section accompaniment
- Balancing comping voices behind a soloist without overshadowing the melody
- Playing with intentional dynamics and space in blues contexts
- Sight-reading jazz style markings and rhythmic notation across multiple parts