Session Samba: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

$48.00 USD

Session Samba: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Session Samba: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-JEM05008
Price: 48.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By W. Scott Ragsdale

Grade: 3 (Medium)

Item: 00-JEM05008

$48.00

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A very hip samba! Scott Ragsdale composed and arranged this dynamic and high energy Latin samba with a melody that grabs you and makes this chart take off and soar. Stop time breaks throughout the melody and in the solos (written out or ad lib) for the 1st tenor, 2nd trumpet, and 1st alto add to the tremendous forward motion of this samba. Check out the open solo for Latin percussion, too. It's clear from the first note that this chart will keep every player on his or her toes. Quality writing! (4:33)

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Series: Jazz Band Series

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 104

UPC: 654979090526

SKU: 00-JEM05008

More about this title

About the Composer: W. Scott Ragsdale

W. Scott Ragsdale spent decades at the center of American jazz arranging, serving as chief arranger and trombonist with The Commodores, the U.S. Navy Band of Washington, D.C.'s flagship jazz ensemble. His arranging work extended across the East Coast for more than 30 years, shaping the sound of numerous professional and collegiate ensembles.

Ragsdale's formal training at Southern Illinois University and Berklee School of Music (MA) equipped him to write with both technical sophistication and immediate appeal. His background as a performing trombonist in one of the nation's premier jazz groups infuses his compositions with an insider's understanding of what works on the bandstand.

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Why we love this

Ragsdale's writing cuts through immediately; the melody hooks listeners from the downbeat and the forward momentum never lets up. The strategic use of stop-time breaks for soloists and the open percussion feature create natural focal points that let your ensemble shine while keeping energy locked in place.

What to expect

Session Samba pulses with infectious energy and undeniable groove. The moment the clave locks in, the arrangement builds a momentum that propels the entire ensemble forward, especially when the stop-time breaks arrive to jolt the listener awake and refocus attention on the soloist in the spotlight.

Who it's for

This is ideal for Grade 3 jazz ensembles with solid rhythm section chops and soloists ready to step forward. Directors looking to program a crowd-pleasing Latin chart that doesn't sacrifice musical sophistication will find exactly what they need here.

How to get the most out of it

Balance the stop-time breaks so they land with clean clarity. The written and ad lib solos for 1st tenor, 2nd trumpet, and 1st alto need locked rhythm section support underneath to prevent the energy from sagging.
Give the Latin percussion soloist room to breathe and improvise; this is their moment to step into the spotlight, so ensure the ensemble understands when to lay back and listen.
Lock the samba groove early in rehearsal. The rhythmic precision of the Latin feel is what propels this chart forward, so settle the clave and montuno before diving deep into section work.
Front-load articulation conversations with your winds. The crisp, punchy character of this chart depends on clean tonguing and consistent phrasing across the melody and supporting lines.

How to use it

This works beautifully as a concert closer or as part of a Latin-themed set that pairs well with other samba or salsa material. The high energy and accessibility make it an excellent audience favorite for both formal jazz band concerts and pops performances.