Puffy Taco: Score
By Victor López
Grade: 4 (Medium Advanced / Difficult)
Item: 00-PR-0002372
$9.00
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Description
Victor López does it again! Year after year, Victor writes fresh, hot Latin charts that are extremely fun to play. Starting with a cool bass and bari sax lick, this gem of a chart moves to a well-conceived 'head' with a trumpet and tenor sax lead. In the development of the tune, Victor switches from a songo to a salsa, and gives the solo opportunities to all the instruments. Believe it: no one else is writing Latin tunes that are this good! (3:55)
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Additional Details
Series:
Premier Jazz Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
85
SKU:
00-PR-0002372
More about this title
About the Composer: Victor Lopez
Victor López is a prolific composer and arranger whose Latin jazz charts have become essential repertoire in jazz ensembles across the country. His distinctive approach combines accessible writing with genuine harmonic and rhythmic sophistication, earning consistent praise from directors who value both pedagogical clarity and musical authenticity.
Why we love this
López nails the balance between infectious groove and genuine compositional substance. The piece gives every section meaningful solo space while keeping the ensemble engaged throughout, and the songo-to-salsa transition feels earned rather than gimmicky, students learn real style distinctions, not just surface-level genre hopping.
What to expect
Immediate and energetic from the first bass-and-baritone lick, building into a buoyant, celebratory feel once the full ensemble enters. The chart breathes between sections, enough space to reset between the head, the solos, and the style shift, so it never feels breathless or exhausting, just relentlessly fun.
Who it's for
Jazz ensembles at the intermediate-advanced level who are ready to tackle authentic Latin jazz style without getting bogged down in impossible technical demands. This works for groups developing their groove vocabulary and confidence with soloists.
How to get the most out of it
- Lock the bass and baritone sax lick from the top; that groove is the spine of everything that follows, so nail the pocket before adding the horns.
- Balance the trumpet and tenor lead carefully during the head, they're in a call-and-response relationship that dissolves if one overwhelms the other.
- When you shift from songo into salsa, resist the urge to speed up. The style change should feel compositional, not rhythmically panicked.
- Give soloists a click or cue track to lean on; the harmonic movement is straightforward, but the rhythmic character of Latin feels slippery to young players without a solid anchor.
How to use it
Pair this with another Latin jazz selection to build a short thematic set, or use it as the anchor of a spring or end-of-year concert where you want consistent energy without venturing into the avant-garde. Its length (under four minutes) makes it ideal for festival play or as a palate cleanser between heavier concert pieces.
Skills your students will build
- Identifying and executing songo and salsa rhythmic feels
- Comping changes in Latin jazz contexts
- Call-and-response phrasing in ensemble settings
- Solo construction over a stable groove
- Style transitions within a single composition