The Jazz Police: Guitar
By Gordon Goodwin / arr. Victor López
Grade: 2 (Medium Easy)
Item: 00-PC-0017165_G
$3.00
Pickup currently not available
Description
This hot jazz-rock arrangement of the Gordon Goodwin Big Phat Band original features a driving bass line and solo sections for alto sax, tenor sax, and drums. A playable yet high-energy chart, the arrangement features fully notated solos, manageable ranges (lead trumpet to written G5), and a solo section that can be opened up for additional players. (4:35) 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 Jazz Police: Guitar comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Sample Audio
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Additional Details
Series:
Young Jazz Ensemble
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
126
SKU:
00-PC-0017165_G
More about this title
About the Composer: Gordon Goodwin
Gordon Goodwin has been composing music since childhood, writing complete works rather than fragments from age five onward. His first big band arrangement, Hang Loose, arrived when he was just thirteen. This early mastery of orchestration and form caught the attention of Hollywood, and over decades Goodwin has earned three Emmy Awards and multiple Grammy nominations for his work on films including Bad Boys II, Con Air, Remember the Titans, and Star Trek: Nemesis. His arrangements have also graced recordings by Christina Aguilera, Ray Charles, and Quincy Jones.
In 2000, Goodwin founded Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band, a Los Angeles-based ensemble that has become known for energetic, contemporary big band jazz. The band's debut album, Swingin' for the Fences, made history as the first commercially released DVD audio title and earned two Grammy nominations. His subsequent album XXL garnered three more Grammy nominations, confirming Goodwin's standing as one of the most prolific and respected voices in modern big band arranging.
Why we love this
Victor López's arrangement captures everything that makes the Big Phat Band's original so infectious: a relentless groove, punchy tutti sections, and space for soloists to breathe. What sets this chart apart is how it balances accessibility with genuine jazz attitude; your ensemble will sound polished and energetic without getting bogged down in extreme technical demands. The fully notated solos mean your section leaders can focus on tone and phrasing rather than improvisation anxiety, while the optional extensions allow your strongest players to stretch.
What to expect
Propulsive and funky, with the kind of infectious groove that gets people listening. The chart swings hard while maintaining a modern edge; you'll hear elements of rock and funk woven into the jazz language, creating something that sounds fresh without abandoning ensemble cohesion.
Who it's for
Jazz ensembles at the medium-easy level who want a contemporary chart with genuine swagger and star power. Directors seeking a festival-ready piece that doesn't require advanced improvisation skills will find this arrangement ideal, as will groups looking for music that excites both players and audiences.
How to get the most out of it
- Keep the bass line locked and steady; it's the engine that drives the entire arrangement. Even when sections are tacit, the groove must never waver.
- Shape the fully notated solo sections with dynamic contrast. These aren't background figures; they're solos that deserve clear articulation and space.
- Balance the lead trumpet part carefully. A5 and G5 sit high enough to dominate quickly; let the solo voices breathe by pulling back slightly on the tutti sections that surround them.
- If you expand the solo section for additional players, maintain the rhythmic clarity of the original written material so the added voices enhance rather than muddy the groove.
How to use it
This works beautifully as a closer or a festival feature where you want to make an impression. Its medium-easy grade and 4:35 duration make it ideal for a concert where you're balancing a variety of styles, and it pairs well with straight-ahead jazz standards or swing charts as a contemporary counterpoint.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and executing jazz articulation in notated sections
- Maintaining groove and rhythmic precision in a syncopated ensemble setting
- Listening to and supporting featured soloists
- Balancing lead parts (particularly high trumpet) with section blend
- Interpreting rock and funk elements within a jazz ensemble context