Proxy: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score, Parts & CD

Snidero's original composition arrives in Titlebaum's arrangement with the kind of musicality that makes big band feel alive and present. The shuffle groove sits comfortably between playfulness and propulsive energy, giving your ensemble something genuinely swinging to sink into without the density or complexity that can bog down less experienced sections. The inclusion of additional percussion, horn, and tuba parts means you can scale the voicing to your personnel and still land the full sound of the piece.

Light-hearted yet propulsive, "Proxy" swings with the kind of groove that lands somewhere between relaxed and energized. The shuffle feel gives it a playful character that doesn't sacrifice the driving momentum that makes big band jazz compelling.

This arrangement works for high school and college jazz ensembles with competent rhythm sections and section leaders who can carry solos. The additional parts give directors flexibility to use available personnel, whether that's a full big band plus extras or a leaner instrumentation adapted to what you have.

• Lock the shuffle rhythm deep in the rhythm section before adding horn lines. The lightness of this piece depends on that groove sitting solidly behind the soloists and ensemble figures.
• Balance the written solos so they're clearly heard above the ensemble comping. Snidero's melodic lines deserve space to breathe.
• Shape the dynamics around the swinging character rather than blasting through full volume sections. The driving energy works because of contrast, not relentless volume.
• Use the included CD to hear how the groove sits at performance tempo, then adjust your rehearsal pacing accordingly.

Program this as an opener or closer to showcase your ensemble's swinging side without asking them to sustain intensity through a challenging harmonic landscape. It pairs well alongside uptempo standards or more modern big band writing, offering contrast through its straightforward groove and accessible melodic content.

• Articulation and phrasing in swing shuffle rhythms
• Section balance and ensemble listening in a groove-based context
• Solo navigation and comping interaction
• Reading and interpreting stylistic markings in jazz notation