St. Louis Blues: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score

$12.00 USD

St. Louis Blues: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score

Name: St. Louis Blues: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-26899S
Price: 12.00 USD
Availability: OutOfStock

By W. C. Handy / arr. Victor Goines

Item: 00-26899S

$12.00

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Composer/arranger/educator Victor Goines has arranged this blues tune by W.C. Handy as a swing with Latin-rumba interludes. A clever update of a classic, check out the stylistic contrasts he writes along with the written solos for trumpet 2 and trombone 1. Lead trumpet range is to written A above the staff. This arrangement is correlated and discussed in the Jazz at Lincoln Center Jazz for Young People Curriculum. An original and creative chart. This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.

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Series: Jazz for Young People Series

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 20

UPC: 038081305875

SKU: 00-26899S

More about this title

About the Composer: W. C. Handy

W. C. Handy (1873–1915) was a cornet player, bandleader, and composer who fundamentally shaped American popular music by documenting and formalizing the blues. His arrangements and compositions helped elevate blues from regional folk tradition to published sheet music distributed nationally, earning him the informal title "Father of the Blues." Handy's work bridged classical training and vernacular style, making him essential to music education's understanding of jazz and blues as serious, teachable art forms.

For educators, Handy's legacy matters because his compositions remain vessels for teaching jazz history, harmonic language, and cultural context. St. Louis Blues in particular has become a cornerstone of jazz curriculum precisely because it demonstrates how a composed blues can be reimagined across styles and eras without losing its identity.

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Why we love this

Victor Goines's arrangement cuts through the nostalgia trap by making St. Louis Blues active and modern while respecting its bones. The swing sections paired with Latin-rumba passages create genuine stylistic contrast that keeps ensemble focus sharp, and the written solos for trumpet 2 and trombone 1 give soloists a clear voice without requiring improvisation skills that may still be developing.

What to expect

Rooted in blues but restless. The piece alternates between warm, grooving swing passages where the band settles into pocket, and bright Latin interludes that shift the energy forward. There's a narrative arc that feels intentional rather than random, giving students the sense they're playing something constructed with clear purpose.

Who it's for

Jazz ensembles at the high school or early collegiate level who are ready for stylistic sophistication and modest solo responsibility. The arrangement's correlation with the Jazz at Lincoln Center curriculum makes it especially valuable for programs using that framework.

How to get the most out of it

Balance the lead trumpet's register carefully in the upper passages. The written A above the staff sits in an exposed register where a thin or strained tone becomes immediately obvious; prioritize clarity and resonance over volume.
Lock the rhythm section into the Latin sections with precision. The rumba interludes need crisp articulation and steady timekeeping from drums and bass to make the stylistic shift register convincingly.
Shape the written solos as composition, not improvisation. Ensure trumpet 2 and trombone 1 understand the phrasing and dynamics Goines has notated; these solos benefit from intentional interpretation rather than ad-lib treatment.

How to use it

Program this as a centerpiece on a jazz concert where you want to showcase both ensemble cohesion and individual soloists. Its blend of classic Americana and contemporary arrangement makes it work equally well alongside stride piano or bebop charts, bridging different jazz eras in a single set.