Step Lightly: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts
By Joe Henderson / arr. Mike Kamuf
Grade: 2 (Medium Easy)
Item: 00-PK-0007720
$50.00
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Description
An outstanding swing chart that is accessible in every way. The melody is stated by alto, tenor, and trumpet; the tempo is 120 BPM; and the lead trumpet range is to written G on top of the staff. This chart includes written-out suggested solos for tenor 1 and trumpet 2, a sweet shout chorus, and all the usual optional parts plus vibes and clarinet. This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Step Lightly: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts 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:
Young Jazz Ensemble
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
98
SKU:
00-PK-0007720
More about this title
About the Composer: Joe Henderson
Joe Henderson stands as one of jazz's most influential tenor saxophonists and composers, with a career spanning from the 1960s through his death in 2001. His compositional voice combines sophisticated harmonic sensibility with infectious melodic appeal, making his work equally valued in professional jazz settings and educational contexts. Henderson's arrangements and original compositions have become standards in both the concert hall and the rehearsal room, prized for their musicality and their ability to challenge advancing musicians.
Why we love this
Mike Kamuf's arrangement captures the essence of a swinging tune without demanding virtuosity from every section. The written-out solos for tenor 1 and trumpet 2 give younger players a scaffold to build from while the shout chorus creates genuine ensemble excitement, making this piece deeply satisfying to conduct and hear.
What to expect
Step Lightly swings with easy confidence. The melody sits naturally across the trumpet and saxophone voices, and the harmonic progression supports rather than complicates the groove. There's a brightness and accessibility here that invites listening while maintaining enough sophistication to reward close attention.
Who it's for
Grade 2 ensembles with basic swing chops and players ready for written-out solo responsibility. This works equally well for high school jazz bands building their festival rotation and college big bands seeking accessible but musically substantial material.
How to get the most out of it
- Let the groove settle in during the head. At 120 BPM, this isn't a race; the swing feel matters far more than rushing the tempo.
- Balance the melody statement among alto, tenor, and trumpet so each voice projects equally. These three need to blend as a single melodic voice, not compete.
- Shape the written solos with dynamic contrast. Guide your tenor 1 and trumpet 2 players to think of their solos as conversations with the rhythm section, not technical display pieces.
- Build the shout chorus progressively. Start lean and add layers each phrase so the final chorus has real punch without sounding frantic.
How to use it
Program this as a contest piece where your ensemble can compete without the transcription demands of harder Grade 3 and 4 charts. It also serves as an excellent mid-season morale booster, offering your players a complete, satisfying musical experience and a chance to hear themselves swing as a unified band.
Skills your students will build
- Swing feel and articulation in jazz idiomatic style
- Reading and performing written-out improvised solos
- Balancing melody among three different instrumental voices
- Navigating chord changes as a soloist within a harmonic framework
- Ensemble cohesion during shout choruses and group figures