Modern Pecknology: Baritone T.C.
By Kris Berg
Grade: 3.5 (Medium)
Item: 00-PC-0017495_BTC1
$3.00
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Description
"Modern Pecknology"---it's the chicken-themed funk chart! A clever title, and it's certainly a clever chart. This Kris Berg composition opens with the sound of the barnyard and then it gets funky immediately with a very cool bass part. The tempo is around 110 BPM with the lead trumpet range to written B above the staff. A suggested written tenor solo is provided along with chord changes for trombone 1. A great groove that settles in and stays funky. (5:49)
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Additional Details
Series:
Jazz Band Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
102
SKU:
00-PC-0017495_BTC1
More about this title
About the Composer: Kris Berg
Kris Berg directs the jazz studies program at Collin County Community College in Texas, where he earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees in jazz studies from the University of North Texas. His ensembles have received multiple invitations to perform at the Montreux Jazz Festival, and he founded both the Collin Jazz Fest and the Texas All-Star Jazz Camp. Berg's compositions and arrangements have been performed and recorded internationally, and he serves as a clinician and artist for Yamaha Corporation of America.
As a prolific composer and arranger for Belwin Jazz (Alfred Publishing), Berg has established himself as a leading voice in contemporary big band writing. His collaboration with world-class jazz artists including Kurt Elling, Randy Brecker, Peter Erskine, Bob Mintzer, and Clark Terry reflects his standing in the jazz community. He is also the author of Bass Lines in Minutes, a widely adopted resource for jazz educators, and maintains endorsements from Walter Woods Amplifiers.
Why we love this
Berg writes charts that stay grooved without feeling academic. The barnyard opening disarms your students immediately, and the funky bass line that follows gives everyone a reason to lock in; the ensemble commits to the pocket rather than just counting measures. The optional tenor solo and trombone voicings provide natural differentiation for your stronger improviserswithout leaving the rest of the section hanging.
What to expect
Modern Pecknology starts with barnyard humor that lands immediately, then pivots into a sleek funk groove that feels both composed and lived-in. The piece settles into a pocket that's deep enough to sink into but playful enough to keep things from ever feeling heavy; it sounds like a band that knows how to have fun while still swinging hard.
Who it's for
Medium-level jazz ensembles (high school, college, or advanced community bands) who want a contemporary groove chart that engages both sections and soloists. The Grade 3.5 difficulty sits well for ensembles with solid time feel and at least one capable tenor improviser, though the optional solo means you can program it flexibly.
How to get the most out of it
- Lock the drum chair and bass player together first. The groove at 110 BPM only feels effortless when those two voices are genuinely locked; spend rehearsal time isolating rhythm section work before bringing in the full ensemble.
- Bring out the bass line texture in early sectional rehearsals. This part carries the funk aesthetic, so make sure your bass section knows it's not just time-keeping; it's the definition of the whole vibe.
- Schedule dedicated time for the trumpet lead to nail the written B above the staff comfortably and consistently. At this tempo and intensity, that high passage needs to feel secure, not desperate.
- If you're using the tenor solo, consider assigning it to a player early in rehearsal so they have time to internalize the chord changes and add their own voice. The trombone 1 voicings will sound sharper if your soloist is confident.
How to use it
This chart works beautifully as a mid-set energy spike or a closer at jazz festivals and competitions where you want to showcase your ensemble's groove pocket and improvisational confidence. It also pairs well on a concert program alongside straight-ahead standards, since the funk aesthetic and humor give audiences a different texture without requiring a stylistic shift from your soloists.
Skills your students will build
- Locking into a consistent funk groove and syncopated rhythmic feel
- Trading melodic and harmonic responsibility between sections (trumpet lead, optional tenor solo, trombone voicings)
- Reading extended range in the trumpet section (written B above staff)
- Maintaining pocket and time at 110 BPM across longer form sections
- Improvising over chord changes with confidence and appropriate stylistic phrasing