Phat Kat: 2nd B-flat Trumpet

López nails the balance that every director chases: this piece has real musical teeth without requiring your ensemble to be virtuosic to pull it off. The Latin groove, the featured baritone sax line, and those contrasting ensemble sections give students something memorable to sink their teeth into, and the absence of improvised solos means rehearsal time goes toward ensemble cohesion rather than coaching individual performers.

Phat Kat swings with infectious Latin energy and urban groove. The piece has attitude and contemporary flair while keeping the harmonic and rhythmic vocabulary accessible, creating moments of genuine musical sophistication that students can actually execute.

Jazz ensemble directors working with intermediate students who want to program something energetic and stylistically authentic without overreaching technically. This works for school jazz bands, community ensembles, and festival-ready groups at the Grade 2 level.

• Lock the rhythm section (piano, bass, drums) first. The Latin groove is the heartbeat; once your rhythm players are locked, everything else will fall into place more naturally.
• Bring out the baritone sax feature. This is a rare moment for that voice to lead, so balance the ensemble appropriately and let that player take ownership of the line.
• Watch the trumpet high note (written G) in context. Have your first trumpet mark it and plan for the range early in rehearsal; it sits comfortably at this level but needs confidence.

Place this as a centerpiece in a jazz concert or festival program, where its stylistic clarity and engaging character anchor a set. It works equally well as a contest selection or as the high-energy finale in a mixed jazz program.

• Playing with swing feel and Latin rhythmic accuracy
• Balancing section ensemble sound with featured solo lines
• Reading jazz notation and idiomatic jazz phrasing
• Ensemble coordination across rhythm section and horns
• Extending trumpet range into the staff with confidence