Makin' Whoopee: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

Wolpe's arrangement solves a real deficit in the jazz ensemble literature: it gives your bass trombone player a genuinely showcased role without requiring improvisation or extensive soloing prep. The written melody sits comfortably in the bass trombone range, lets that player shine, and the surrounding parts (2nd trumpet harmony, sax soli, lead trumpet counterline) create a full, sophisticated sound that rewards a skilled ensemble.

Classic 1920s sophistication delivered through a medium-swing lens. The tune has warmth and humor (true to its musical theater roots), and Wolpe's orchestration gives the bass trombone a voice that feels both tender and authoritative. The written jazz passages and sax soli add modern polish without overtaxing the ensemble's harmonic or rhythmic reading.

Jazz ensemble directors working with Grade 4 players who have a capable bass trombone section member ready for a feature. This chart works equally well in a competitive festival setting or a concert program where you want to highlight a soloist without relying on improvisation, making it accessible for younger or less experienced improvisor-based programs.

• Lock the medium-swing feel early in rehearsal. Use a metronome to establish the pocket, then conduct the first run-through without one so the rhythm section finds the air and float that this style demands.
• Balance the bass trombone lead with the ensemble background. The bass trombone line should speak clearly without drowning out the written harmony from 2nd trumpet and the sax soli; a careful final balance pass at the end of sectional rehearsals will prevent muddiness.
• Mark and practice the ensemble attacks in the horn section (especially where lead trumpet hits the high E unison line) so transitions feel cohesive and the contrast to the bass trombone solo passages lands with impact.
• Request that the 2nd trumpet come to the harmonic mute section thoroughly prepared. The written-out jazz work requires precision tuning and tone control that benefits from individual practice before bringing it to the ensemble.

Program this as a feature in a jazz concert where you want to celebrate a standout player in your section. The 3:23 length makes it ideal as a middle-weight selection between a ballad and a more driving swing chart, and it pairs well alongside traditional big-band-style arrangements in a concert focused on standards.

• Medium-swing feel and jazz rhythmic articulation (interpretation of 8th notes, ghost notes, and accents in a jazz context)
• Reading and executing written jazz passages without improvisation, sharpening melody interpretation and harmonic awareness
• Ensemble balance and transparency within a full jazz section, particularly managing multiple simultaneous written lines
• Sectional cohesion in trumpet and trombone sections navigating unison lines and harmonic support
• Confidence in feature or solo playing within an ensemble context