Saxology: Shenanigans: 5 Saxophones SATTBar & Piano, Guitar (Ad Lib), Double Bass, Percussion Conductor Score & Parts

McNeely doesn't write a feature solo that sits on top of a static accompaniment; instead, "Shenanigans" builds energy through genuine musical dialogue between the tenor soloist and the full saxophone section. The through-composed structure means every phrase has purpose, and directors get a chart that rewards careful rehearsal and reveals new details with repeated listening. This is the kind of writing that makes your ensemble sound mature.

The piece has a playful, conversational quality despite its musical sophistication. The tenor voice emerges naturally from the ensemble fabric, and the five-saxophone texture creates a warm, cohesive sound that feels both intimate and full. There's genuine humor in the musical interactions, with the kind of musical "give and take" that happens between musicians who know each other's voices well.

Jazz ensembles with a strong tenor soloist and solid section players who understand blend and balance. This works equally well in college jazz groups, advanced high school bands, and professional ensembles looking for repertoire that showcases a featured player without sacrificing ensemble musicianship.

• Balance the alto and baritone saxophone voices carefully throughout; they're essential to the harmonic color and shouldn't recede into the background even when the tenor has the melody.
• Work with your tenor soloist on maintaining rhythmic independence from the section. The interaction works best when both parts have clear identity and aren't locked mechanically together.
• Use the ad lib guitar part to add rhythmic flexibility and texture, but rehearse a version without it first so the piano and bass can anchor the harmonic foundation solidly.
• Attend to dynamic shape in the saxophone section voicings. McNeely's orchestration shifts the weight between voices deliberately, and following those contours gives the piece its organic feel.

Program this as a feature that showcases your tenor soloist while demonstrating ensemble sophistication. It works particularly well in a set with other McNeely pieces or alongside contemporary jazz works that value compositional craft over pure technical display. Consider placing it mid-set where it can breathe and let the audience settle into the musical conversation.

• Blend and balance within five-part saxophone voicing
• Following through-composed form and tracking harmonic development
• Rhythmic independence between soloist and ensemble
• Dynamic shaping within ensemble passages
• Responding to and supporting a featured soloist without losing section identity