Song for Jaco: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score

$15.95 USD

Song for Jaco: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score

Name: Song for Jaco: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 01-ADV31202-1
Price: 15.95 USD
Availability: InStock

As Recorded by the WDR Big Band Cologne on Prism

By Peter Erskine / arr. Bill Dobbins

Item: 01-ADV31202-1

$15.95

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Peter Erskine's "Song for Jaco" is a warm and lyrical ballad, which is dedicated to the legendary electric bassist, Jaco Pastorius. Solo contributions are heard from the lead trumpet, the baritone saxophone, and the bass, with brief statements from the lead alto saxophone. Arranged by Bill Dobbins.

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Song for Jaco

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Series: Advance Music

Publisher: Advance Music

SKU: 01-ADV31202-1

More about this title

About the Composer: Peter Erskine

Peter Erskine began playing drums at age 4 and built a career spanning multiple genres and ensembles. His recording portfolio includes over 700 albums and film scores, collaborations with Weather Report, Steely Dan, the Yellowjackets, and artists from Chick Corea to Diana Krall, as well as releases on his own Fuzzy Music label.

Eskine has performed as a soloist with major orchestras across Europe, Asia, and North America, and served as faculty at USC's Thornton School of Music for more than two decades. His contributions to music education and performance earned him induction into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame in 2022, a Berklee honorary doctorate, and two Grammy Awards among nine nominations. He remains an active clinician and educator worldwide.

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Why we love this

Erskine's ballad writing is direct and singable, giving your ensemble's soloists material that sits naturally and allows their personalities to shine. Bill Dobbins' arrangement respects the lyrical core while structuring the piece so that lead trumpet, baritone saxophone, bass, and lead alto each get meaningful solo space. The result is a piece that sounds generous to play and rewarding to hear.

What to expect

Warm, grounded, and introspective. The ballad opens with space and allows the bass and soloists room to express themselves without urgency. There's a dignity to the piece that reflects its dedication to Pastorius, combined with a casual intimacy in the way the solos unfold.

Who it's for

Jazz ensemble directors seeking accessible material that features soloists without demanding advanced bebop chops. Advanced high school and college programs will find the piece repertory-worthy; the writing is sophisticated enough to challenge your section but rooted in straightforward changes and a warm melody that ensembles grasp quickly.

How to get the most out of it

Honor the ballad tempo. Let the piece breathe; avoid rushing the quarter-note pulse, especially in the ensemble sections that frame the solos.
Balance the rhythm section carefully so that bass solos cut through without the drums or piano overwhelming the line.
Shape each solo as a complete statement. The lead trumpet, bari sax, and bass should each bring their own phrasing and dynamics to their moments.
Blend the ensemble hits. The brief lead alto statements and full-section moments demand unity of articulation and dynamic control to land with impact.

How to use it

Pair this with an uptempo feature on the same concert to showcase ensemble range. It works well in the second half of a set where the audience has settled in, or as a standalone moment of contrast in a longer jazz concert that includes bigger ensemble arrangements.