Message from Westlake: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score

Kamuf writes charts that trust your ensemble to swing hard while keeping the architecture clear and rewarding. The stop-time chorus gives everyone a moment to lock in together, and that shout section has the kind of punch that lands every time you play it. The written-out solos mean your section leaders can focus on phrasing and feel rather than improvisation anxiety, which opens the door to focused, musical results fast.

Propulsive and sassy, with the kind of forward momentum that draws an audience in immediately. The melody gleams across five voices, the rhythm section burns underneath, and when that shout chorus hits, the whole room knows it. This is a chart that rewards tight ensemble playing with genuine groove and swagger.

Jazz ensembles at the intermediate level looking for a chart with immediate impact and genuine swing. Directors preparing for festival or concert programming will find this accessible enough for focused preparation while challenging enough to feel substantial. Players who thrive on ensemble energy and written-out solo sections will connect with this material quickly.

• Establish the tempo with your rhythm section before bringing in the ensemble. At 172 BPM, the groove needs to sit solidly; lock drums and bass together first, then add guitar and keys.
• Shape the melody statement across your five voices (tenor 1, bari, trumpet 2, trombone 1, and guitar) as a unified line. Balance matters here; the harmony instruments should support, not overpower, the leading voices.
• Attack the stop-time chorus with confidence and dynamic contrast. The rhythmic space is your best tool; let the silence breathe between hits.
• Bring the shout chorus to full energy without rushing. The written lead trumpet line to B will sit exactly where it should if your section maintains the groove's integrity.

Pair this with a ballad to showcase range in your jazz concert, or use it as a high-energy closer that leaves the audience wanting more. It works equally well at festivals, informal jazz nights, or pops concerts where you want to demonstrate your ensemble's ability to execute modern big band writing with precision and joy.

• Grooving at a medium-fast tempo (172 BPM) without rushing
• Sectional ensemble blend across five-voice melody statements
• Stop-time rhythmic accuracy and collective response
• Reading and executing written solo lines with stylistic intent
• Dynamic control and impact in shout chorus voicing