Scungilli: Conductor Score & Parts

Scungilli lands somewhere between contemporary jazz writing and the warmth of Italian-American tradition, with unexpected harmonic moves that keep the ear engaged. The piece swings with ease while letting smart voicings and color changes prevent it from becoming predictable.

Jazz ensemble directors working with flexible instrumentation or limited instrumentation options will find a performance-ready piece that sounds like a real jazz composition rather than an educational etude. Intermediate to advancing jazz students benefit from a tune that demands solid swing fundamentals while offering genuine solo opportunities.

• Let the rhythm section lock the groove first. Once the pocket feels settled, the wind soloists will find their pocket naturally and the whole ensemble will swing harder.
• The jazz scales throughout demand clean articulation from your winds; clarity here lets the fresh harmonic colors actually land with the audience.
• Encourage soloists to listen as much as they play. This tune rewards interactive comping from the rhythm section, so rehearse with that call-and-response conversation front and center.

This works beautifully as a feature for your jazz ensemble concert, especially when you want to showcase multiple soloists across a single tune. It also pairs naturally with other medium-tempo standards or contemporary jazz originals in a set that demonstrates range without demanding extreme tempos.

• Jazz swing feel and rhythmic precision in flexible ensemble settings
• Soloing over contemporary jazz harmonic progressions
• Listening and responding to rhythm section comping while soloing
• Clear articulation and tone control across diverse harmonic colors
• Ensemble blend and balance when instrumentation varies