Sign Me Up!: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score

Kamuf builds this chart around a genuinely funky premise without overcomplicating it. The written-out solos give your soloists a clear path to success, the shout chorus provides a moment of collective energy, and the stop-time and drum solo sections break up the form in ways that keep the ensemble engaged and listening to each other throughout.

The piece moves with an infectious funk-rock swagger, easygoing enough to feel accessible but substantial enough to hold a listener's attention. Solos emerge naturally from the ensemble texture, and the shout chorus provides a moment of unbridled enthusiasm before the groove settles into its stop-time section for a flash of tightness and control.

Jazz ensembles at the middle school or early high school level, or developing high school groups looking for Grade 2 material with real musicality and variety. This is ideal for programs building confidence in young soloists or preparing for contests and festivals where a well-structured, groovy chart stands out.

• Lock the groove at 132 BPM early in rehearsal. Once the rhythm section finds the pocket, the whole chart sits better, and your soloists will have a stable platform for their written parts.
• Highlight the dynamic contrast between sections. The funky-rock verses need to feel relaxed and laid-back; the shout chorus should snap with precision and energy.
• Give your lead trumpet and solo soloists space to inhabit their lines expressively. The written parts provide the structure, but interpretation of phrasing and dynamics will transform them from notes into performances.
• Use the drum solo as a moment to reset. Let your drummer own it while the ensemble listens, then come back together with renewed focus for the final statements.

Program this as an opener or a closer on a mixed jazz concert where you want to showcase energy and groove alongside more traditional jazz fare. It also works well as a confidence builder earlier in the school year, freeing up your ensemble's focus for other goals while still delivering a memorable performance.

• Reading and executing funky rhythmic figures in jazz style (syncopation, swing feel)
• Comping and ensemble listening in a stop-time section
• Soloing within a written framework (trombone and alto solos)
• Ensemble precision in shout chorus passages
• Reading optional parts and flexible instrumentation