Pick up the Pieces: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts
As performed by Average White Band / Arranged by Mark Taylor
Grade: 4
Item: 35-PK00117808
$50.00
Pickup currently not available
Buy Extra Parts (Digital PDF Download)
| Product | Price | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Pick up the Pieces - Full Score | $7.50 | |
| Pick up the Pieces - Alto Sax | $6.00 | |
| Pick up the Pieces - Tenor Sax | $6.00 | |
| Pick up the Pieces - Baritone Sax | $6.00 | |
| Pick up the Pieces - Trumpet 1 | $6.00 | |
| Pick up the Pieces - Trumpet 2 | $6.00 | |
| Pick up the Pieces - Trombone | $6.00 | |
| Pick up the Pieces - Guitar | $6.00 | |
| Pick up the Pieces - Piano | $6.00 | |
| Pick up the Pieces - Bass | $6.00 | |
| Pick up the Pieces - Drums | $6.00 | |
| Pick up the Pieces - Alternate Alto Sax | $6.00 | |
| Pick up the Pieces - Alternate Tenor Sax | $6.00 | |
| Pick up the Pieces - Alternate Trombone | $6.00 |
Parts Added to Cart!
Description
Here's the huge hit recorded by Average White Band in 1975 in a funky setting for a small band.
Pick up the Pieces: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.
Request This Title
Tell us you want it.
Start Your Free Trial
Explore everything that's ready to play right now.
Sample Audio
No sample audio found.
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00117808
More about this title
About the Artist: Average White Band
Average White Band emerged from Edinburgh, Scotland in the early 1970s to become one of the defining forces in funk and soul music. The band's tight horn arrangements, infectious grooves, and interracial lineup made them pioneers in bringing funk sensibilities to mainstream audiences. Their 1975 album "Cut the Cake" established them as masters of the genre, with "Pick up the Pieces" becoming their signature track and a staple of funk and jazz repertoire.
Why we love this
Mark Taylor's arrangement captures the essential swagger of the original without losing any of its pocket and funk character. Grade 4 jazz ensembles get a chance to sink into a genuinely cool groove while building serious ensemble cohesion. The horn writing sits perfectly for developing players, and students recognize the tune immediately, which means they're motivated to nail the execution.
What to expect
Walking into a basement club in the 1970s where the band is locked in so tight the groove feels inevitable. Funky, confident, and infectiously groove-based, this tune swings with an easy confidence that makes ensemble playing feel effortless once you find the pocket.
Who it's for
Jazz ensembles at the intermediate level who want to program something their students actually want to play. Any group looking to add a certified crowd-pleaser to their concert that also serves as a training ground for groove and funk sensibility.
How to get the most out of it
- Lock into the kick drum and bass line first in rehearsal. The strength of this tune lives in the groove, so spend time grooving as a section before worrying about note accuracy.
- Shape the horn sections with dynamics that serve the funk feel rather than the written dynamic markings alone. Listen to the original recording to hear how the horns sit slightly behind the beat.
- Balance the rhythm section so the bass and drums feel present but not overpowering. This arrangement needs air for the ensemble to breathe and swing.
- Push the soloists to commit musically rather than just playing the notes. Funk requires personality and intention that goes beyond reading the page.
How to use it
Pair this with other funk and soul-influenced jazz repertoire for a concert that explores the intersection of groove and ensemble playing. The recognizable melody and accessible energy make it an excellent opener or closer for a jazz concert, and it works equally well as a feature in a mixed concert setting.
Skills your students will build
- Locking into a steady groove and maintaining pocket feel
- Balance and blend within funk-influenced horn voicings
- Reading and performing syncopated rhythms with precision
- Responding to the rhythm section's pulse and responding dynamically
- Improvisation within a blues-based harmonic framework