The Big Beat: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

The sheer energy of this piece makes it a natural festival showstopper. Yasinitsky writes for the entire ensemble with equal care, giving the trombone section genuine showcase moments while building a huge shout chorus that feels earned rather than gratuitous. It's the kind of arrangement that sounds twice as hard as it actually is, which means your students walk away confident.

A propulsive, swinging powerhouse that recalls classic big band swagger. The arrangement delivers constant forward motion, sharp dynamic contrasts, and moments of real fire from the brass, all built on a foundation of locked rhythm section grooves and that unmistakable Krupa-style drum pattern.

Jazz ensembles at the intermediate level who are ready for genuine big band energy without excessive technical demands. This works for groups that have solid fundamental swing technique and players who understand their roles in a section.

• Lock the rhythm section into that Gene Krupa swing feel early in rehearsal. The written drum pattern is the spine everything else hangs on, so get that solid before layering in the brass shouts.
• The trumpet, tenor, trombone, and drum solos are notated for a reason. Work them as written first, then let soloists own them. A Grade 3 ensemble will shine with clear solo passages.
• Keep the tempo honest at 200 BPM. Rushing this piece flattens the dynamics and makes the ensemble sound scattered. Use a metronome in sectionals.

Build your festival or concert around this as a centerpiece. It pairs well with standards or ballads that will rest the ensemble after the intensity, and its length (4:40) gives it presence without dominating your program.

• Reading and executing big band swing style and phrasing
• Playing with precision in fast-moving ensemble shout choruses
• Understanding and executing drum set swing patterns and jazz comping
• Executing written solo passages in jazz idiom
• Balancing dynamic control across a full ensemble at tempo (200 BPM)