Strollin' with Sammy: Score
By Paul Baker
Grade: 2 (Medium Easy)
Item: 00-PR-0005434
$9.00
Pickup currently not available
Description
Paul Baker composed and arranged this medium swing chart as a tribute to the great Sammy Nestico. It has a written solo for 2nd trumpet (cued for 1st), a sax section soli, a piano solo, a brief shout chorus and superb writing throughout. (2:35) 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, Strollin' with Sammy: Score comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
Open in the Player
Jump straight in and assign it today.
Start Your Free Trial
Open this title and explore the full library in minutes.
Sample Audio
1
Audio File
--:--
0:00
0:00
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Series:
Young Jazz Ensemble
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
72
SKU:
00-PR-0005434
More about this title
About the Composer: Paul Baker
Paul Baker is a composer and arranger whose work spans jazz, film, television, R&B, and Broadway. Based in Austin, he has performed at prestigious venues including the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles and the Village Vanguard in New York, and has appeared at jazz festivals throughout Europe. His composition and arranging credits include work for films, theater productions, jazz ensembles at all levels, and video games.
Baker holds a B.M. in jazz studies from North Texas State University and completed advanced studies in film composition at USC. As an educator and clinician, he continues to work with jazz ensembles across the country. More of his work can be found at www.bakersjazzandplay.com.
Why we love this
Baker's arrangement channels the clarity and sophistication of Sammy Nestico's writing while keeping the chart accessible to developing ensembles. The solo opportunities (2nd trumpet, saxes, piano) are idiomatic and rewarding without overwhelming young soloists, and the shout chorus lands with genuine punch. This is a swing chart that teaches ensemble cohesion and jazz vocabulary without sacrificing musicality.
What to expect
Strollin' with Sammy captures the relaxed sophistication of classic swing. The groove swings easily, the solos breathe naturally over a solid foundation, and the orchestration stays warm and conversational rather than complex. There's joy in the writing without sentimentality.
Who it's for
This chart suits developing jazz ensembles ready to explore swing repertoire with real solo space and ensemble writing depth. High school jazz bands and college jazz ensembles at the beginning-intermediate level will find it playable and engaging.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the 2nd trumpet solo against the section so the melody cuts through; the cue in 1st trumpet helps directors shape the phrasing if needed.
- Use the sax section soli as a chance to refine blend and intonation across the reeds; lock the rhythm section tight underneath to anchor the groove.
- Keep the piano solo linear and conversational rather than orchestral; space and swing feel matter more than velocity.
- Shape the shout chorus with dynamic lift; even a brief moment hits harder when the ensemble commits to unified articulation and phrasing.
How to use it
Program this chart in a jazz concert as an homage set or alongside other standards to showcase how contemporary arrangers honor the swing tradition. At 2:35, it fits comfortably into a varied set and works equally well in a contest or festival setting given its clarity and balanced solo opportunities.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and executing swing articulation (staccato vs. legato) in section and solo contexts
- Accompanying a soloist while maintaining ensemble groove and dynamics
- Phrasing and space management in trumpet and saxophone solos
- Blend and rhythmic precision in section soli (saxes) under tempo