Now's the Time: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

Murtha captures the spirit of Parker's bebop language without overwhelming inexperienced jazz players. The limited ranges and straightforward rhythms mean your ensemble can focus on phrasing, swing feel, and ensemble blend rather than struggling with technical demands. You get a historically significant tune that actually sounds like jazz, paired with an arrangement that lets younger students discover why this music matters.

Bright, energetic, and conversational. The melody bounces with bebop swagger but stays grounded in blues sensibility. There's joy here, not pretense; even at first sight, players sense they're playing something genuinely cool.

Beginning jazz ensembles and any ensemble taking their first real steps into jazz repertoire. Students with limited soloing experience will find accessible parts, while the overall tune remains musically honest enough to engage experienced players as well.

• Establish a relaxed swing feel from rehearsal one. The tune lives in the pocket, not in rushing the eighth notes.
• Pay attention to the ensemble hits and punctuations. They define the groove and keep the soloists grounded.
• Let your soloists breathe. Parker's genius was melodic storytelling, so encourage players to phrase like they're speaking, not reading.

Pair this with a jazz history lesson about bebop and Parker's innovations. It works beautifully on a jazz concert as an opener or as part of a standards set that shows how the same tunes sound across different eras and arrangers.

• Swing eighth note phrasing and feel
• Reading jazz chord changes and improvising over blues changes
• Ensemble balance in a small jazz combo setting
• Listening to and responding to soloists
• Blues form and 12-bar structure