Splanky: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score

Sammy Nestico's arrangement captures the swagger of Count Basie's sound without demanding virtuosic chops from your ensemble. The medium tempo keeps sections tight, the solo spots are brief enough that your section leaders can handle them confidently, and the rhythm section writing gives your rhythm players the chance to voice Basie-style comping that will transform how the whole band grooves.

Smooth, swinging, and confident. The chart moves with the ease of a well-oiled ensemble that knows exactly what it's doing, with enough space for soloists to stretch without losing the band's cohesion. There's joy in the writing, not just notes on the page.

Jazz ensembles at the high school level and advanced middle school programs looking for repertoire that teaches authentic big band language. Directors want music that challenges students musically without requiring advanced technical facility, and this chart delivers exactly that.

• Nail the articulation style in the ensemble hits. These figures need crisp, unified tonguing with minimal separation; the punch comes from precision, not volume.
• Let the rhythm section set the pocket first. Have them lock the groove in sectional rehearsal before the horns play over it. A solid Basie shuffle feel makes everything else fall into place.
• Balance the solo passages so they breathe but stay connected to the ensemble sound. The soloists should feel supported, not spotlit.

Program this on a jazz concert where you need a crowd-pleaser that also shows your ensemble's musicality. It pairs well with bebop charts on the same set and works equally well as a spring concert feature or festival entry.

• Basie-style ensemble articulation and phrasing
• Swing feel and rhythmic pocket awareness
• Jazz solo construction and small-group interaction
• Lead voice independence in saxophone and trumpet sections
• Reading and executing slash notation for rhythm section comping