Sticks: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

Adderley and arranger Mike Kamuf have built a chart that swings hard without asking impossibly high ranges of your section leaders. The straight-eighth groove locks instantly, the shout chorus lands with real energy, and at Grade 2 this chart actually respects what intermediate players can deliver musically. Directors often reach for this one when they need something that feels completely authentic to jazz tradition but won't expose thin trumpet sections.

A chart built for joy and momentum. Straight-eighths propel everything forward with a groove that feels inevitable rather than forced; the writing swings naturally instead of requiring apology or explanation. The shout chorus kicks like a horn section should, and there's genuine satisfaction in how completely written-out voices let even younger improvisers contribute without guessing.

Jazz ensembles at the intermediate level with solid section fundamentals and at least one capable lead trumpet player. This chart works equally well for middle school groups ready to play beyond method-book grooves and high school ensembles seeking accessible material for contests or casual performances.

• Keep the eighth-note subdivision locked in the rhythm section from the downbeat. At 170 BPM, any wavering in the comping or bass line will make everything feel sloppy.
• Balance the unison figures in the horns so the lead voice (trumpet 1) cuts through without sounding strident. The written-out parts give you an advantage here, make sure everyone respects the dynamic hierarchy.
• Use the shout chorus to build intensity gradually. Resist the urge to hit full volume immediately; let the arrangement's own architecture do the heavy lifting across the form.

Program this early in a concert when you need the audience's attention immediately, or place it as a centerpiece in a jazz festival set where you want judges hearing both technical control and authentic swing. At 3:47 with energy built in, it works perfectly as one strong statement rather than filler alongside more complex arrangements.

• Playing straight-eighth grooves with pocket and precision
• Reading jazz articulation and section unity without expressive loss
• Managing trumpet range into the staff's upper register while maintaining ensemble balance
• Responding to written shout choruses with dynamic clarity and collective punch
• Understanding how rhythm section fundamentals (bass, drums, comping) create space for horn writing