T.O.P. Adjacent: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts
As Recorded by Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band
By Gordon Goodwin
Grade: 6 (Professional / Very Advanced)
Item: 00-PK-0007731
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Description
If you want funky, this is it! In a nutshell, this is Tower of Power meets Gordon Goodwin, simple as that. Solo space provided for alto, tenor, bari, trumpet, trombone, and various rhythm players.
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Additional Details
Series:
Gordon Goodwin Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
78
SKU:
00-PK-0007731
More about this title
About the Composer: Gordon Goodwin
Gordon Goodwin began composing full arrangements in his head at age five, capturing complete works rather than fragments. By thirteen, he had already written his first big band chart, Hang Loose, signaling the extraordinary musicianship that would define his career. His work in film and television earned him three Emmy Awards and multiple Grammy nominations, with orchestrations featured in films ranging from Bad Boys II to Remember the Titans. He has written for and performed alongside artists including Christina Aguilera, Quincy Jones, and Ray Charles, and has conducted major symphony orchestras across North America and Europe.
In 2000, Goodwin founded Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band, establishing himself as a bandleader and composer at the forefront of contemporary jazz. The ensemble's debut recording made history as the first commercially available DVD audio release and garnered two Grammy nominations. His subsequent albums continued the trajectory of critical acclaim, with XXL receiving three Grammy nominations including Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album. Goodwin's reputation rests on his ability to blend sophisticated compositional craft with infectious groove, a combination that resonates throughout his educational and professional work.
Why we love this
Goodwin delivers the high-energy funk vocabulary that ensembles at this level crave, grounded in the Tower of Power tradition but filtered through his own big band sensibility. The arrangement provides substantial solo space across saxophones, brass, and rhythm section, giving advanced players genuine opportunities to stretch their improvisational chops. What sets this apart from other funk charts is the harmonic sophistication and orchestration depth; this isn't a one-groove wonder, and your ensemble will stay engaged throughout.
What to expect
Infectious, greasy, and immediately groovy. This arrangement channels the swagger and horn interplay of classic Tower of Power while maintaining the harmonic sophistication Goodwin brings to everything he writes. From the first downbeat, it swings hard and asks the ensemble to lock into a pocket that feels both modern and timeless.
Who it's for
Advanced jazz ensembles and Grade 6 programs seeking contest and festival material with proven crowd appeal. Directors working with sophisticated players who are ready for funk idioms and extended solo forms will find a vehicle that rewards both ensemble discipline and individual musicianship.
How to get the most out of it
- Lock the rhythm section first. The groove won't breathe without drummer and bassist locked in tight; give them ample rehearsal time before layering horns.
- Encourage soloists to listen deeply to Tower of Power recordings and Goodwin's own Big Phat Band. The style demands a specific attitude about phrasing and dynamics that notation alone cannot convey.
- Balance the band's weight toward the back. Funk charts often need the ensemble to support rather than overpower soloing sections; resist the urge to swell during blowing choruses.
- Shape the hits with precision. Goodwin's funk writing hinges on synchronized articulation and release; spend time on the strike and cutoff of scored ensemble moments.
How to use it
Program this at jazz festivals where it will resonate with adjudicators and audiences alike. Its funk credentials and accessibility make it strong material for spring concerts or pops programs, while the technical demands ensure it challenges your best players. Consider pairing it with a ballad or Latin piece to showcase your ensemble's range.
Skills your students will build
- Groove-based ensemble cohesion and rhythmic locking (especially drummer and bassist synchronization)
- Funk and Tower of Power style articulation and phrasing
- Extended jazz improvisation over funk forms with changes
- Reading and performing layered, syncopated ensemble figures under soloist
- Dynamic control and subtlety within high-energy funk contexts