Tell Me Something Good: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts
As performed by Stevie Wonder / Arranged by Mike Tomaro
Grade: 4
Item: 35-PK00343433
$55.00
Pickup currently not available
Buy Extra Parts (Digital PDF Download)
Parts Added to Cart!
Description
This classic funk tune from the '70s was written by Stevie Wonder, but became a huge hit for Rufus and Chaka Khan. Featuring a slow and driving pulse with heavily syncopated figures, this chart provides a powerful change of pace for contest or festival.
Tell Me Something Good: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.
Request This Title
Tell us you want it.
Start Your Free Trial
Explore everything that's ready to play right now.
Sample Audio
No sample audio found.
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00343433
More about this title
About the Artist: Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder stands as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, with a catalog that spans soul, funk, pop, and jazz idioms. His mastery of harmony, rhythm, and melody has shaped generations of musicians across every genre, making his compositions essential study for ensemble directors seeking to expand their students' musical vocabulary.
Why we love this
Mike Tomaro's arrangement captures the irresistible groove of Wonder's original while giving your ensemble room to breathe and lock in. The funk foundation is unshakeable, but the writing respects the capacities of a high school jazz band, making this both authentically soulful and genuinely playable.
What to expect
Cool, propulsive, and understated. The arrangement lays down a slow and driving pulse that feels heavier than its tempo suggests, with syncopated figures that weave around the beat without rushing it. You'll hear the song's soul shine through the ensemble's horns.
Who it's for
Grade 4 jazz ensembles ready for repertoire with real funk credibility. Directors seeking a contemporary classic that connects to students' musical world while teaching them how syncopation serves groove rather than fighting it.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish the pulse with your rhythm section first. The syncopation in the horn lines only lands when the band feels the underlying beat with absolute confidence.
- Let the ensemble sing the main theme before layering syncopation. Tomaro's voicings are rich enough that clarity comes from conviction, not speed.
- Shape the dynamics around the original's dynamic restraint. This tune doesn't shout; it compels through pocket and pocket alone.
- Balance the bass line and drums as a single unit early in rehearsal. The driving pulse depends on their conversation, not on either voice dominating.
How to use it
Pair this with another soul or funk selection to anchor a set, or use it as a change of pace in a concert that balances swing standards with contemporary grooves. It works equally well at a festival or as the momentum shift in a winter concert.
Skills your students will build
- Locking into syncopated figures while maintaining a steady pulse
- Balancing horn section blend across syncopated rhythmic patterns
- Articulating funk groove through dynamics and phrasing rather than technical velocity
- Listening to the rhythm section as a foundation for all other parts
- Playing behind and on top of the beat with intentionality