More Combo Blasters for Pep Band: Part IV (E-flat) (Baritone Sax) Book

López's track record with the Combo Blasters series proves he understands what makes pep band work: recognizable songs, balanced instrumentation, and parts that keep every player engaged without requiring virtuosic technique. The mix of classic rock, funk, and patriotic standards here gives you flexibility for everything from pep rallies to halftime shows.

This collection captures the DNA of stadium rock, funk, and American popular music across four decades. Expect moments of brassy swagger, funky grooves that sit low and steady, and the kind of arrangements that make an audience immediately recognize what you're playing and want to move along with it.

Pep band directors and baritone saxophonists in marching bands and show-style ensembles who need reliable, crowd-pleasing charts that work for students of varying experience levels. If your band has performed earlier Combo Blasters books, this continuation offers fresh material without forcing a new arrangement style on your students.

• Lock the rhythm section (sax, trumpet, and rhythm parts) first during early rehearsals; once that groove is solid, the rest of the band will lock in naturally.
• Balance articulation with the brass line to avoid burying the melody; baritone sax often carries counterline responsibility, so listen for clarity without forcing volume.
• Mark breathing points in longer phrases before the first run-through; pep band arrangements often prioritize continuous energy, so plan your breaths strategically.
• Emphasize the stylistic differences between tracks: 'Peter Gunn' needs a different attack than 'La Bamba,' and your sound should shift accordingly.

These 14 titles work beautifully as a rotating pep rally repertoire throughout the season, allowing you to pull a different chart each event without rehearsal fatigue. You can also build a halftime show around 3-4 of these pieces, or use them as warm-up material before more formally structured concert programs.

• Reading and performing idiomatic jazz and funk rhythmic figures in a marching context
• Balancing a counterline voice with awareness of melody and bass movement
• Adapting articulation and tone color to shift between rock, funk, and traditional styles
• Maintaining steady time and groove feel without losing musical phrasing
• Sight-reading stamina across a variety of popular song forms