Sabor de Cuba: Score
(Taste of Cuba)
By Victor López
Grade: 3.5 (Medium)
Item: 00-PR-0005790
$11.00
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Description
A "Taste of Cuba" for sure. A very hot Latin chart premiered at the Midwest Band Clinic, 2015, this is a show-stopper chart for a strong band. The chart is jam-packed with lines that bounce from section to section, including a suggested written tenor sax solo with backgrounds. Lead trumpet range is to written A above the staff with an optional high D. Two auxiliary percussion parts that really make this chart come alive plus optional flute and vibraphone too. (3:39)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Sabor de Cuba: Score comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
Jazz Band Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
110
SKU:
00-PR-0005790
More about this title
About the Composer: Victor López
Victor López is a composer and arranger whose work spans classical, wind band, and jazz idioms. His pieces have been premiered at major festivals including the Midwest Band Clinic, and his writing demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of both traditional ensemble voicing and contemporary popular styles.
Why we love this
López writes with genuine flair for the jazz idiom while keeping the demands manageable for a 3.5-level ensemble. The sectional writing stays active and engaging without fragmenting the ensemble sound, and the percussion parts elevate what could be a standard chart into something genuinely exciting. This one rewards preparation with real payoff in performance.
What to expect
The energy of Cuban rhythms filtered through a jazz ensemble lens, with layers of syncopated figures bouncing across the full ensemble. The written tenor sax solo sits at the heart of the piece, supported by warm section backgrounds that create a sense of ensemble conversation. This is music designed to move; it feels like a celebration.
Who it's for
This conductor score and parts package is designed for jazz ensembles with solid section fundamentals and the range capability to handle the extended trumpet writing (optional high D makes it flexible). Directors programming a festival or contest entry will find a piece that excels in both musical substance and audience appeal.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the tenor sax solo with the written backgrounds so the backgrounds sit behind the soloist rather than competing for attention.
- Tap into the auxiliary percussion parts early in rehearsal; the layered rhythmic energy they create is essential to the piece's character.
- Lock the rhythmic precision of the section-to-section line exchanges by isolating those moments and drilling the handoffs between trumpet, saxes, and trombone.
- Shape the dynamic journey across the full 3:39 length to build momentum toward the final section rather than playing everything at concert volume.
How to use it
Schedule this as a centerpiece for a jazz concert or as a contest selection where you want to showcase your ensemble's ability to swing, balance parts, and execute Latin rhythms with precision. The runtime and energy level make it an ideal second or third piece in a set, where it can build excitement without exhausting the ensemble.
Skills your students will build
- Latin jazz rhythm interpretation and coordination with swing feel
- Section-to-section ensemble communication and balanced part exchange
- Solo comping and ensemble backgrounds in a written arrangement
- Percussion part independence and layered rhythmic texture
- Extended range facility on trumpet and awareness of optional vs. required notes