The Red Door: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

$48.00 USD

The Red Door: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

Name: The Red Door: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-29795
Price: 48.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Gerry Mulligan and Zoot Sims / arr. W. Scott Ragsdale

Grade: 3 (Medium)

Item: 00-29795

$48.00

Shipped

One moment…

Composed by sax legends Gerry Mulligan and Zoot Sims, Scott Ragsdale has done a yeoman's job on this wonderful chart. Lead trumpet range is to written A above the staff and solo space (written) is for tenor sax and piano. Here is a guarantee: this is a very interesting tune and an excellent chart that swings hard! First class work all around. (4:38) 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 Red Door: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

Open in the Player

Jump straight in and assign it today.

Start Your Free Trial

Open this title and explore the full library in minutes.

No sample videos found.

Series: Jazz Band Series

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 130

UPC: 038081319179

SKU: 00-29795

More about this title

About the Composer: Gerry Mulligan

Gerry Mulligan (1927-1996) was a baritone saxophonist and composer who fundamentally shaped the sound of cool jazz. His compositions and arrangements became cornerstones of jazz education, prized for their sophisticated harmonic writing and accessible melodic content that rewards both ensemble cohesion and individual voices.

Mulligan's legacy extends beyond the recording studio into the rehearsal room. His charts combine the discipline of classical arranging with the freedom of jazz improvisation, making them essential repertoire for ensembles developing their ability to balance written precision with stylistic authenticity.

Show moreShow less

Why we love this

Ragsdale's arrangement captures what made Mulligan's original concept so durable: a swinging head that sits perfectly in a high school or college ensemble's wheelhouse, paired with genuine solo space that lets your tenor and piano player shine. The writing is clean enough to prepare efficiently but sophisticated enough that your band will discover new details with every rehearsal.

What to expect

The tune swings with an unhurried sophistication. It's neither bop-frenetic nor balladic; instead it settles into a groove that feels both relaxed and intentional, letting the melody breathe while the rhythm section locks in underneath. Solos have room to develop without the head ever losing its essential cool-jazz character.

Who it's for

This chart works for Grade 3 jazz ensembles with a capable tenor saxophonist and competent rhythm section. Directors programming intermediate jazz repertoire will find it balances the ensemble's technical growth with genuine interpretive challenge.

How to get the most out of it

Lock the comping rhythm section (piano and bass) together first. The swing feel depends on their pocket, not the melody.
Balance the lead trumpet carefully. That written A above the staff sits bright; have your lead player use a lighter articulation to blend rather than cut through.
Encourage the tenor saxophonist to listen to the head melody before soloing. Mulligan's tune has a specific melodic character worth honoring during improvisation.
Let the rhythm section establish groove during solo sections. The band can pull back slightly, giving soloists room to breathe without losing the ensemble's energy.

How to use it

Feature this on a jazz concert alongside other Mulligan-era standards or as the anchor for a cool jazz program. At 4:38, it provides substantial content without overextending your concert pacing. It also serves well as a bridge piece, showing audiences that jazz composition operates with the same musical rigor as classical repertoire.