A gorgeous even-eighth treatment of a poignant yet powerful melody you'll love. Trumpet 1 takes the written melody line, plus a few brief suggested solos for alto, trombone, tenor, and trumpet are provided. The tempo after the intro is around 144 BPM. Auxiliary percussion and various other optional parts included. A beautiful chart. (3:30)
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Rick Hirsch studied composition and arranging at UMass-Amherst and Northern Illinois University, then launched his career as a personal music copyist for jazz legends Bob Mintzer and Toshiko Akiyoshi. His compositions have been performed by visionary soloists including Yusef Lateef and Eddie Henderson, and he has written for ensembles ranging from the Capitol Quartet to the Penn State Blue Band.
Hirsch has guest-conducted All-State and District Jazz Bands across the country and previously held a faculty position at Penn State University. In 2017, his ensemble BIG OL' BAND released their debut album, Pocono Git-Down, which spotlights innovative jazz happening outside major metropolitan areas.
Why we love this
Hirsch writes with genuine melodic gift, and this chart proves it. The even-eighth groove sits perfectly at Grade 2.5, making the piece accessible without feeling thin, and the optional solos give your section leaders room to stretch without demanding virtuosity.
What to expect
There's real emotional weight here beneath the moderate tempo. The even-eighth groove gives it contemporary polish, but the melody carries a quiet intensity that keeps listeners engaged throughout. It's the kind of tune that sounds simple until your ensemble plays it with intention, at which point it becomes genuinely moving.
Who it's for
Intermediate jazz ensembles looking for repertoire that combines strong melody with reasonable technical demands. The Grade 2.5 level and optional solos make it equally valuable for a developing high school ensemble or an experienced middle school group ready to explore jazz phrasing and small-group improvisation.
How to get the most out of it
Keep the eighth-note feel crisp and consistent from the intro onward. Even at 144 BPM, clarity matters more than drive.
Balance the ensemble to let the trumpet melody breathe in the head. This isn't a high-energy shout; it's a lyrical feature.
Encourage soloists to connect with the ballad quality of the melody, even when improvising. The tune's poignancy should inform how they interpret their space.
Use the auxiliary percussion parts to add color and shape the form, but keep the foundation locked between drums and bass.
How to use it
Program this as a ballad feature in a concert that balances uptempo selections, or use it to open a set and establish mood. Its three-and-a-half-minute length fits cleanly into a mixed program, and the optional solos let you showcase individual voices without derailing the overall arc of your concert.
Skills your students will build
Even-eighth jazz feel and comping patterns
Phrasing and melodic expression in a jazz context
Small-group improvisation and solo development
Listening and responding to ensemble balance in a lyrical setting
Reading and interpreting jazz notation and articulation
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