Swingin' for the Fences: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score

$10.00 USD

Swingin' for the Fences: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score

Name: Swingin' for the Fences: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-JEM03001C
Price: 10.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Gordon Goodwin

Grade: 5.5 (Advanced / Difficult)

Item: 00-JEM03001C

$10.00

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Based on the changes to "Sweet Georgia Brown," Swingin' for the Fences can be fast or if you have the horses, really fast. In this Gordon Goodwin original, the solo section provides space for alto, tenor, trumpet, trombone, and piano or vibes. The title says it all when the full ensemble gets its wish - a rompin', stompin' tutti section that will put your band on the map. Optional parts provided for vibes, flute (2nd alto), and soprano sax (1st alto). A brilliant chart! As recorded on Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band: Swingin' for the Fences. This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.

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Series: Gordon Goodwin Series

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 20

UPC: 654979050766

SKU: 00-JEM03001C

More about this title

About the Composer: Gordon Goodwin

Gordon Goodwin has been composing music since childhood, writing complete arrangements rather than fragments before his teenage years. His earliest big band chart, Hang Loose, earned recognition at age 13 and launched a career that would eventually land him Emmy Awards and Grammy nominations for his work in film and television scoring on projects like Bad Boys II, Con Air, and Remember the Titans.

Beyond Hollywood, Goodwin has collaborated with major artists including Christina Aguilera, Quincy Jones, Ray Charles, and others across multiple genres. Since 2000, he has led Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band, whose debut album Swingin' for the Fences made history as the first commercially released DVD audio title and earned two Grammy nominations. His second album, XXL, added three more Grammy nominations, cementing his status as one of contemporary jazz's most accomplished arrangers and composers.

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Why we love this

Goodwin wrote this chart knowing exactly what big band musicians crave: space for soloists to shine and a crushing ensemble moment that justifies all the rehearsal time invested. The optional voicings (vibes, flute, soprano) give you flexibility without forcing unnecessary doublings, while the tempo choice puts control entirely in your hands whether you need a manageable swing feel or a high-octane closer.

What to expect

Built on the chord progression everyone knows, this chart swings hard with space to breathe during solo passages before pivoting to an exuberant, fully committed ensemble shout. The energy builds from conversational interplay to an unmistakable statement of collective power.

Who it's for

Advanced jazz ensembles ready to tackle a professional-level arrangement with solo demands across multiple voices. The Grade 5.5 difficulty suits experienced players who can handle both the technical requirements and the interpretive choices the chart demands.

How to get the most out of it

Balance the solo section by rotating who gets prominence in each pass through the changes; let your rhythm section lock the feel before turning full attention to soloists.
Build intensity gradually as you approach the tutti section rather than hitting full volume immediately; save the crescendo for where the full ensemble finally enters.
Emphasize the tightness of the ensemble swell itself, since that's when the chart earns its title. Precision in the tutti makes the earlier spaciousness land harder.

How to use it

Save this for a concert closer or a festival performance where you can end on a high note with something the audience recognizes. The solo section also works as a showcase moment mid-program if you're featuring different instrumentalists across a concert.

Skills your students will build

Trading 4s and 8s in a big band context
Balancing rhythmic freedom in solos against ensemble cohesion
Executing a clean, punchy tutti section with consistent articulation across sections
Listening to and responding to other soloists in real time
Navigating tempo flexibility (slow to fast) and communicating it to the ensemble