Terminally Hip: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score

Goodwin brings his signature Big Phat Band energy to the ensemble repertoire without overcomplicating the middle school or early high school conductor's life. The tune is genuinely catchy and swings hard at 150 BPM, giving your band an authentic jazz sound that doesn't require virtuosos to pull off. Trading between drums and the full ensemble in the shout chorus creates real excitement on stage, and the flexibility to route solos through any combination of C, B-flat, E-flat, or trombone players means you're never stuck if your lead trumpet player goes missing.

Modern, sharp, and undeniably groovy. The tune settles into a hip swagger that makes audiences lean forward, and the rhythm section pocket stays tight and deep throughout. The shout chorus releases all that energy with a playful call and response between the band and drums that feels both controlled and celebratory.

Jazz ensembles at the Grade 3.5 level, including advanced middle school groups and early high school jazz bands. Conductors looking for a chart that delivers polish and swing without requiring soloists with professional-level chops will find this an excellent fit for concert or festival programming.

• Lock the groove at 150 BPM in early sectional rehearsals; rhythm section steadiness here makes everything else click into place.
• Balance the shout chorus carefully so drums trading with the ensemble feels conversational, not competitive. The ensemble needs to respond, not overpower.
• Route your solo section strategically based on who's ready to step up. The written solos work equally well for different instruments, so feature your strongest improvisers and solid section players without waiting for perfection.
• Mark all optional parts clearly in your parts list before rehearsal. Flute and vibes add sophistication when available but are not essential to the arrangement's success.

Place this as a centerpiece in a jazz concert, pairing it with a ballad and an uptempo romp to showcase range. Its five-minute-twenty-second length gives you breathing room between opening and closer without leaving audiences wanting more. The combination of accessibility and genuine musicality makes it equally valuable for a school jazz festival or a community concert where you want to demonstrate your ensemble's versatility.

• Swing comping and rhythmic precision in jazz style at a moderate tempo
• Solo trading and call-and-response ensemble textures
• Lead trumpet range extension to written B above the staff
• Flexible solo section reading (transposition awareness across C, B-flat, E-flat, and trombone parts)
• Ensemble dynamics and balance within a shout chorus