Maynard & Waynard: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score

Goodwin wrote this chart specifically to honor two legendary lead trumpets, and that intention shows in every phrase. The adaptation for a single soloist retains all the swagger and technical challenge of the original while giving your lead player a vehicle that sounds big and sounds serious without requiring a co-star. A five-minute-plus chart at this level demands real musicianship from your section, but the payoff is a piece that feels like a professional big band performance.

Built on a hard-swinging pulse with the kind of punchy, sophisticated harmony Goodwin is known for, this chart feels like watching a master instrumentalist perform. The trumpet's high range sits comfortably into the upper register without sounding strained, and the rhythm section grooves with that Big Phat Band signature blend of tight control and loose feel.

Advanced jazz ensembles with a strong lead trumpet who is ready for a professional-level feature. Directors working at the Grade 6 level will find this chart demands polish across the section, with particular emphasis on the rhythm section's swing feel and ensemble precision.

• Lock the lead trumpet's entrance with your rhythm section from the first solo break; Goodwin's phrasing expects tightness across the band, especially when the trumpet takes space.
• Let the second trumpet part breathe during the soloist's featured sections. The voicing around a lead trumpet solo gains clarity when players listen rather than over-support.
• Balance the ensemble hits with precision, particularly in the swing sections where Goodwin stacks tight unison lines. Clean attacks and releases define the sound.
• Give your lead player freedom within the written solo space, but ensure the band's comping underneath stays grounded and consistent to support that improvisation.

Program this as a showcase for your strongest lead player on a concert dedicated to contemporary big band writing or as the centerpiece of a jazz-focused set. At five minutes, it commands enough time and musical weight to stand as a major work on the program, not filler.

• Playing with extended range in the upper register for trumpet
• Distinguishing between written solo space and ensemble support in jazz arrangements
• Maintaining consistent swing feel across longer chord progressions
• Reading complex sectional harmonies in jazz voicings
• Balancing lead and second trumpet parts in tight ensemble contexts