Red Clay: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score

Mike Kamuf's arrangement respects Hubbard's original vision while making it genuinely playable at Grade 2, which is rare in jazz writing at this level. The written solos for tenor and trumpet 2 remove guesswork while the interlude and shout chorus provide texture and momentum without overwhelming younger players.

Grounded and funky, with the steady propulsion of a straight-eighths groove and just enough harmonic sophistication to feel grown-up. The written solos give the piece momentum and character while the interlude adds a moment of breath before the climactic shout chorus brings everyone together.

Jazz ensembles at the Grade 2 level with developing readers and section players who are ready for a Hubbard standard but need clear structure and accessible voicings. Tenor and trumpet players with foundational solo experience will benefit from the written solo sections, which provide a learning opportunity without requiring advanced improvisation.

• Lock the straight-eighths feel early in rehearsal; it's the foundation of the groove's character, and rushing or laying back will flatten the rhythm section's pocket.
• Balance the written trumpet solos against the ensemble backings so the soloist sits inside the mix rather than on top of it.
• Use the interlude to reset energy before the shout chorus; mark it clearly in parts so the transition lands together.

Program this as a contest or festival selection where judges recognize the Hubbard name and appreciate solid arranging that develops young players. It also sits naturally in a mixed concert program between a ballad and an uptempo piece, filling the groove-oriented middle ground.

• Straight-eighths rhythm interpretation and pocket playing
• Section independence while supporting a soloist
• Reading jazz voicings and sustained harmonic backgrounds
• Phrasing and dynamics in written solo passages
• Responding to and executing arrangement-specific transitions (interlude and shout chorus)