The Chicken: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

$55.00 USD

The Chicken: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

Name: The Chicken: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-JEM01050
Price: 55.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Alfred James Ellis / arr. Kris Berg

Grade: 3 (Medium)

Item: 00-JEM01050

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Whoa, hold on to your feathers! If you want energy and excitement and a funky groove, then check out Kris Berg's chart, The Chicken. The legendary electric bassist Jaco Pastorius recorded this powerhouse tune and arranger Kris Berg has adapted it for the Jazz Band Series. If you have a strong electric bass player, then you have found yourself a showstopper with this arrangement. The tenor sax solo (written solo provided), the optional guitar solo, and the solo bass line will showcase your soloists. Your ensemble will totally devour The Chicken. Guaranteed to pluck the audience right out of their seats! (4:37)

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, The Chicken: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

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Series: Jazz Band Series

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 108

ISBN10: 0-7579-3412-9

ISBN13: 978-0-7579-3412-4

UPC: 654979997412

SKU: 00-JEM01050

More about this title

About the Composer: Alfred James Ellis

Alfred James Ellis composed "The Chicken," a funk-fusion staple that has become a cornerstone of jazz education repertoire. His composition captured the electric energy of the early 1970s fusion movement and has endured as a vehicle for teaching ensemble groove and soloist development.

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Why we love this

Kris Berg's arrangement channels the funky confidence of the original without requiring your rhythm section to match Jaco Pastorius's technical superhuman feats. The written tenor sax solo gives less experienced players a clear model while the optional guitar solo and exposed bass line create natural showcase moments for advanced soloists on your roster.

What to expect

Pure funk energy wrapped in tight ensemble writing. The groove pulls you forward with a relentless bounce while the horn lines add bite and attitude. Soloists get room to breathe and shine, and the whole thing swings with the kind of confidence that makes an audience move in their seats.

Who it's for

Jazz ensemble directors with a Grade 3 band ready to tackle infectious grooves and featuring at least one strong tenor saxophonist. If you have an electric bassist or guitarist who can carry a solo, this arrangement becomes a moment to celebrate them in front of the audience.

How to get the most out of it

Lock the rhythm section onto the backbeat pocket before adding horns; this groove lives in the space between the kick and snare, not in front of it.
Have your tenor saxophonist study the written solo phrasing as a starting point, then encourage improvisation around those same licks once the melody sits comfortably.
If you have a bassist ready for the solo section, let them breathe with space; the magic happens in what the section doesn't play underneath them.
Punch the horn hits with precision and attitude. Sloppy rhythm section = sloppy horns; crisp drums and bass = ensemble that swings hard.

How to use it

Program this as an anchor for a jazz concert set, especially one built around groove-based repertoire. It pairs well alongside other funk or fusion charts and works beautifully as a closer; the energy and solo opportunities give your soloists a chance to leave the stage on a high note.