Oh, Muddy Waters: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score

$8.00 USD

Oh, Muddy Waters: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score

Name: Oh, Muddy Waters: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 98-HX9014S
Price: 8.00 USD
Availability: OutOfStock

By Monika Herzig

Grade: 3

Item: 98-HX9014S

$8.00

Shipped

One moment…

Originally recorded by Monika Herzig and a cast of musical collaborators from around the globe on her 2016 album, "The Whole World in Her Hands," Oh, Muddy Waters is a bluesy call-and-response between bass instruments and the whole ensemble. Monika has arranged the small group version for big band, with modest brass ranges, suggested piano voicings, and solo space for tenor sax and guitar (or piano). Solo transcriptions are provided that match the recording note-for-note. Laid-back, soft syncopations and a rich harmonic language bring to life a composition that builds on that initial bass riff. Top trumpet note: G5

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Series: HXmusic

Publisher: HXmusic

SKU: 98-HX9014S

More about this title

About the Composer: Monika Herzig

Monika Herzig arrived in the United States in 1988 with a scholarship from her native Germany and a determination to deepen her jazz studies. She earned her doctorate in Music Education with a jazz focus at Indiana University, where she now serves on the faculty in Arts Administration. As a bandleader and touring artist, she has performed at major venues including Birdland and the Manchester Craftsmen Guild, released over a dozen recordings on her own label, and earned recognition including a Down Beat Magazine Award and a Jazz Journalist Association Hero award.

Herzig has also established herself as a writer and advocate for jazz history, authoring books on David Baker's legacy and Chick Corea's music. Her ensemble work showcases her gift for blending musicians from across the globe, as evidenced by her 2016 album "The Whole World in Her Hands," from which "Oh, Muddy Waters" originates. Her most recent project, "SHEroes," highlights leading female jazz instrumentalists and reflects her commitment to expanding the visibility of women in jazz.

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Why we love this

Herzig's big band arrangement honors the bluesy, conversational quality of the original while giving your ensemble room to breathe. The modest brass ranges and flexible solo instrumentation mean you're not locked into a specific lineup, and the provided transcriptions (tracked note-for-note to the recording) eliminate guesswork when students prepare their parts. This is a piece that sounds sophisticated and swings naturally without demanding virtuosity.

What to expect

Earthy and conversational, with a gentle swing feel that invites listening. The piece builds from that foundational bass riff into something fuller and more colorful, yet never loses its intimate, groove-centered core. It feels like eavesdropping on a session between musicians who know and trust one another.

Who it's for

Grade 3 jazz ensembles with solid fundamentals and a rhythm section ready to lock in on bluesy material. This works equally well for groups preparing contest repertoire or building a concert set, and it scales gracefully whether you have traditional big band instrumentation or are doubling parts across a smaller group.

How to get the most out of it

Balance the bass riff as a true dialogue partner with the full ensemble response; the call-and-response architecture only lands if both sides have presence.
Treat the syncopations as laid-back rather than rushed; the softness Herzig specifies comes from relaxed time, not rubato.
Use the provided solo transcriptions as learning tools first. Have your tenor saxophonist and guitarist (or pianist taking the solo) internalize the recordings before personalizing their approach.
Shape the harmonic language by leaning into the suggested piano voicings; they anchor the rich color of the arrangement.

How to use it

Program this mid-set or as a closer on a jazz concert to showcase your ensemble's comfort with blues idiom and ensemble blend. It pairs well with bebop standards or other contemporary jazz compositions and gives audiences a genuine sense of what your students sound like when they're relaxed and swinging together.