The Duke: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

$52.00 USD

The Duke: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

Name: The Duke: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-24850
Price: 52.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Dave Brubeck / arr. Les Hooper

Grade: 3 (Medium)

Item: 00-24850

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"The Duke" provides an intimate ensemble setting of a beautiful Dave Brubeck melody with written-out solos for alto sax and trumpet. The lead trumpet plays to a written G on top of the staff. This is a tasty, musical, dynamic, and first-class chart based on a superb tune! This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, The Duke: 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: 98

UPC: 038081269405

SKU: 00-24850

More about this title

About the Composer: Dave Brubeck

Dave Brubeck built his legacy as both a virtuoso jazz pianist and a serious composer willing to work across idioms. His improvisational brilliance on the keyboard informed everything he wrote, from the iconic "Take Five" and the landmark album "Time Out" (the first jazz record to sell over a million copies) to large-scale choral works, chamber music, and orchestral compositions. Milhaud's influence during Brubeck's studies at Mills College in the mid-1940s shaped his distinctive voice: a composer unafraid to merge jazz language with classical forms.

Beyond his musical achievements, Brubeck was a cultural pioneer who used his platform to challenge racial segregation during the 1950s and 1960s. His sacred works, including the mass To Hope! and oratorios like The Voice of the Holy Spirit and Beloved Son, have been performed and recorded internationally by major orchestras and choral ensembles. The honors accumulated over his lifetime reflect his impact: a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, the Presidential Medal of the Arts, and election to the American Classical Music Hall of Fame in 2003.

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Why we love this

Les Hooper's setting captures the lyrical beauty of a Brubeck melody while giving your saxophonist and trumpet player space to shine with fully written solos. At Grade 3, the chart demands musicality and precision without overwhelming younger ensembles, making it an ideal vehicle for developing jazz interpretation skills. The arrangement sits beautifully for combo-sized groups and works equally well as a feature piece in a larger jazz band concert.

What to expect

A warm, conversational piece that swings with understated elegance. The melody unfolds naturally over the changes, and the written solos invite players to explore the tune's inherent musicality while maintaining the composed framework that gives the chart its cohesion.

Who it's for

Jazz ensembles at the intermediate level who are ready to tackle written solos and need accessible but sophisticated repertoire. Directors programming a concert that balances standards with lesser-known Brubeck material will find this a logical fit.

How to get the most out of it

Balance the written-out solos carefully; the alto sax and trumpet lines should sing through the ensemble without the rhythm section overwhelming them.
Pay attention to the lead trumpet's high G figures; ensure the player approaches these passages with confidence and breath support to maintain tone quality at the top of the staff.
Shape the ensemble dynamics to complement the solo sections. Let the rhythm section lock in early so soloists have a solid foundation to build their interpretations.

How to use it

Use this as a mid-set feature to highlight your section soloists, or pair it with other Brubeck compositions to celebrate his influence on jazz education and ensemble writing. It works equally well in a spring jazz showcase or as a teaching piece in a jazz band elective.