Stro's Place: 3rd Trombone

Strommen writes for the strengths of your ensemble without asking it to be something it isn't. The stop-time ensemble sections ensure every section has exposure, while the written-out tenor and trumpet solos eliminate the guesswork around improvisation—students can focus on sound and phrasing rather than inventing changes. It's a medium-easy chart that never feels watered down.

A spirited, swinging chart that balances individual spotlight moments with ensemble camaraderie. The stop-time passages create dynamic variety and give the rhythm section room to lock in the pocket while horns punch through.

Jazz ensemble directors working with Grade 2 (medium-easy) groups who want a feature that showcases the sax section while keeping the full band engaged. The written-out solos make this accessible for ensembles that aren't yet comfortable with extensive improvisation.

• Build clarity in the stop-time hits by rehearsing them as a full ensemble before sectionals, then return to sections to lock in their specific rhythmic placement.
• Shape the tenor and trumpet solo sections with attention to dynamics and articulation; written solos still require genuine interpretation, not rote reading.
• Keep the swing feel buoyant in the ensemble passages; the medium tempo should breathe, never drag.

Program this as a mid-set energizer at a jazz concert or festival performance, where it can follow a ballad or slower feature and set up further uptempo pieces. It also works well as a showcase piece within a larger band concert, particularly if your ensemble has strong tenor and trumpet players ready for solo exposure.

• Articulation and phrasing in written jazz solos
• Rhythmic precision in stop-time figures
• Swing feel and groove in medium-tempo ensemble passages
• Balance between section features and full ensemble sound