The Chicken: Score
By Alfred James Ellis / arr. Kris Berg
Grade: 3 (Medium)
Item: 00-PR-0005553
$10.00
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Description
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: Score comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
Jazz Band Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
108
SKU:
00-PR-0005553
More about this title
About the Composer: Alfred James Ellis
Alfred James Ellis composed "The Chicken," a funk-jazz standard that has become a cornerstone of electric bass repertoire. His composition captures the essence of groove-based jazz fusion, providing musicians with an accessible entry point into the vocabulary of funk and contemporary jazz.
Why we love this
Kris Berg's arrangement preserves the infectious funk groove that made the original legendary while giving your soloists genuine spotlight moments. The written tenor sax solo means your students can learn the melody before improvising, and if you have strong bass and guitar players, their featured passages will absolutely command the room.
What to expect
Propulsive and irresistible, The Chicken bounces with infectious energy and a syncopated groove that pulls audiences in immediately. The arrangement radiates confidence and swing, creating a performance that feels both tightly rehearsed and spontaneously funky.
Who it's for
Jazz ensembles with solid fundamentals and at least one strong electric bass player will find an ideal vehicle for showcasing soloists and building funk sensibility. Directors looking for a crowd-pleaser that balances pedagogical value with genuine entertainment will find this arrangement delivers on both fronts.
How to get the most out of it
- Lock the rhythm section into a tight pocket before layering in the horns. The groove is everything here, so spend rehearsal time getting the bass line, drums, and guitar locked in together.
- Work the tenor sax solo as a composed solo first. Have your soloist learn it note-for-note before attempting any improvisation, then gradually open it up for personal interpretation.
- Balance the electric bass tone carefully in the mix. This chart lives and dies by the bass line, so dial in the volume and EQ so it cuts through without overwhelming the ensemble.
- Push the optional guitar solo to shine with the right amplification and effects. If your guitarist is capable, give them real freedom here to make the solo their own.
How to use it
Program this as a second-half showstopper at a jazz concert or festival, particularly when you want to shift the mood toward contemporary funk-jazz after more traditional swing numbers. Its festival and contest suitability makes it ideal for competitive settings where you need both musical substance and immediate audience impact.
Skills your students will build
- Reading funk rhythms and syncopated bass lines
- Balancing written melody with jazz phrasing
- Accompanying soloists while maintaining groove integrity
- Electric bass as a lead voice rather than purely harmonic support
- Tension and release in ensemble dynamics