Saxology: Evan's Dance: 5 Saxophones AATTBar & Piano, Double Bass, Percussion Conductor Score & Parts

Dobbins writes for saxophones as a composer who understands the instrument's voice and voice. Every player gets genuine musical material that drives the piece forward, and the counterpoint feels natural rather than academic. The samba groove anchors everything while the optional trumpet and trombone parts give you real flexibility in how you cast the ensemble.

A samba that unfolds with sophisticated interplay rather than straightforward ensemble unison. The medium tempo lets you hear the individual conversations between the saxophone voices while the Latin groove carries everything forward with infectious ease.

Saxophone quintets and larger saxophone ensembles looking for contemporary repertoire with rhythmic appeal and genuine ensemble writing. Jazz-oriented programs and community bands wanting a piece that sounds stylistically confident without requiring virtuosic soloists also work well here.

• Establish the samba pulse early in rehearsal and lock the rhythm section (piano, bass, percussion) before layering in the saxophone voices. The groove is your foundation.
• Balance the contrapuntal lines by asking each saxophone to listen across the ensemble rather than within their own part. Counterpoint only works when all voices carry equal weight.
• If using the trumpet and trombone options, rehearse them separately from the saxophone quintet first to secure their parts, then integrate them gradually. They should sit comfortably in the existing texture.
• Let the medium tempo breathe. Resist pushing the tempo under the temptation to drive the samba harder; the rhythm section and the writing itself provide the propulsion.

Pair this with other Latin or jazz-influenced works to build a concert set with consistent rhythmic energy. It works equally well as a standalone feature for a saxophone ensemble showcase or as part of a broader woodwind concert where you want to showcase contemporary writing.

• Counterpoint in a jazz/Latin context
• Samba rhythm and groove internalization
• Ensemble balance across five independent melodic lines
• Flexible part assignment (trumpet/flugelhorn and trombone substitutions)
• Listening for harmonic movement across the ensemble rather than within sections