Splanky: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score

Name: Splanky: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-JE9720C
Price: 9.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Neal Hefti / arr. Calvin Custer

Grade: 3 (Medium)

Item: 00-JE9720C

$9.00

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This Count Basie standard gets a fresh new sound in the hands of master arranger Calvin Custer. Neil Hefti was famous for his swingin' charts, and this is a great realization of the Basie style. You need this chart if you want to get your students really cookin' this year. It's also a great choice for festival! (duration 4:43)

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Series: Jazz Band Series

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 16

UPC: 029156275322

SKU: 00-JE9720C

More about this title

About the Composer: Neal Hefti

Neal Hefti (1922-2008) was a composer and arranger who became one of the most prolific and respected voices in big band jazz. His charts for Count Basie's orchestra in the 1950s and 1960s defined an era of swing, blending sophisticated harmonic writing with rhythmic drive that kept dancers moving and audiences engaged. Hefti's ability to write idiomatically for jazz ensembles while maintaining compositional depth made him essential to the Basie legacy and a standard-bearer for orchestral jazz writing.

Beyond his work with Basie, Hefti composed for film and television, including the Batman theme. His influence on jazz arranging pedagogy runs deep; educators and student arrangers still study his scores as models of clarity, swing, and ensemble balance.

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Why we love this

Calvin Custer's arrangement preserves the swinging DNA of Hefti's original Basie charts while bringing clarity and energy that speaks to contemporary student ensembles. The 16-page score gives your students a complete, authentic big band experience at a grade level that's genuinely playable without sacrificing musicianship. This is a chart that builds real jazz ensemble skills because every section has work to do.

What to expect

A swinging, mid-tempo groove that feels contemporary yet rooted in classic big band tradition. The ensemble has room to breathe and to shine individually while maintaining the cohesive sound that made Basie's orchestra legendary.

Who it's for

Jazz ensemble directors working with Grade 3 students who have solid fundamentals and some jazz experience. This score is also excellent for festival programming, where judges and audiences recognize the Basie standard and respond to well-executed swing writing.

How to get the most out of it

Balance the groove between rhythm section and horns; the drums and bass should lay down a secure pocket that the trumpet and trombone lines sit into comfortably.
Attack the short jazz articulations crisply and with intention. Hefti's style depends on precise rhythmic definition to swing properly.
Shape dynamic contrasts between sections and soloists. The arrangement has natural peaks and valleys; let them breathe rather than playing at one volume throughout.
Lock the ensemble timings during the head and out; use rehearsals to establish consistent tempo feel, then trust the rhythm section to maintain it during solos.

How to use it

Feature this on a jazz night concert or festival performance where you want to showcase your ensemble's ability to swing authentically. It pairs well with other Hefti or Basie-era standards in a set that lets your students experience the repertoire that defined American jazz orchestration.