Sonny's Place: Score
By Carl Strommen
Grade: 3 (Medium)
Item: 00-PR-0003029
$9.00
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Description
Here's a swinging original composition featuring the saxophone section. No doubt about it, the saxes will crave this one, but not to worry, the brass and rhythm sections will love it too. First, your saxes will spend some quality time together on these solos in unison, harmony and a cappella, but always swinging. Then, a powerhouse stop-time ensemble section for the brass and fun chord changes and nice kicks over this blues progression for the rhythm section will keep up the energy. This chart is titled in honor of the defunct premier jazz club on Long Island. Commissioned by the Nassau-Suffolk Jazz Band, composer Carl Strommen went all out with this swinger. Great chart!
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Sonny's Place: Score comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
Jazz Band Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
86
SKU:
00-PR-0003029
More about this title
About the Composer: Carl Strommen
Carl Strommen's work spans band, orchestra, jazz ensemble, and vocal literature, establishing him as one of the most frequently performed composer-arrangers working today. His music reaches audiences through concert halls, television, and film, and he continues to receive commissions from ensembles across the country. Strommen earned his degree from City College of New York and has served as an adjunct professor of orchestration and composition at C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University. He divides his time between Long Island and Colorado, remaining actively engaged with the academic and professional music communities.
Why we love this
Strommen understands exactly what makes a jazz ensemble chart satisfying to conduct and perform. The saxophones get genuine solo writing that lets them shine together, while the brass section answers with a hard-hitting stop-time section that keeps everyone engaged. The blues progression and chord changes give your rhythm section real work to do, creating the kind of balanced, full-ensemble chart where every section feels like they're driving the music forward.
What to expect
Sonny's Place swings with infectious energy and the relaxed confidence of a live jazz club. The writing balances moments of spotlight solo work with explosive ensemble sections that land with real force, all built on a solid blues foundation that feels both classic and fresh.
Who it's for
This score and parts package serves jazz ensemble directors who want a chart that gives every section meaningful musical material. The Grade 3 difficulty makes it accessible to good intermediate ensembles while still delivering sophistication in the writing and genuine solo opportunities that advanced players will relish.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the unison and harmony passages for the saxophones with clear articulation and phrasing; the weight of the section depends on locking the attack and release together.
- Lock the brass into the stop-time ensemble section with precision; mark the exact cutoffs and prepare the ensemble to breathe together between hits.
- Allow the rhythm section room to interpret the blues changes without rushing; the piano, bass, and drums need space to swing and respond to what the horn sections are playing.
- Balance the saxophone solos against the full ensemble backdrop; the soloists should cut through without requiring the ensemble to pull back artificially.
How to use it
Program this as a concert centerpiece or as a feature for your jazz band's spring performance. The blues progression and accessible Level 3 difficulty make it an excellent choice for a concert that includes both developing and experienced players, and the title's nod to a historic Long Island venue adds local relevance that resonates with audiences.
Skills your students will build
- Swing articulation and phrasing in unison and harmony writing
- Reading and executing stop-time rhythms with ensemble precision
- Blues chord changes and comping in a rhythm section context
- Balancing solo passages against ensemble accompaniment
- Interpretation of jazz style markings and jazz notation