The Skipper Strut!: Trumpet 4

Imagine Second Line parades meeting a modern big band sensibility. The groove sits deep in the pocket with plenty of room for spontaneous soloing, while the sax soli and shout chorus remind you that jazz can be both laid-back and explosive in the same tune.

Jazz ensemble directors working at the Grade 4 level who want a swinging, accessible tune that keeps everyone engaged. This works equally well for school jazz bands and community jazz ensembles where you have strong soloists and a solid rhythm section.

• Lock the rhythm section (bass, drums, piano) into a tight pocket during the head. The New Orleans feel demands precision behind the soloists, not looseness.
• Give your drummer room to breathe during solo sections. This tune is built to highlight percussion work, so resist the urge to constrain the kit.
• Balance the sax soli carefully against the rest of the ensemble. These passages should cut through without overpowering the shout chorus that follows.
• Use the shout chorus as your high-energy payoff. Build dynamics gradually through the section to maximize impact at the final hit.

Save this for a mid-set moment where your audience needs to feel the joy of New Orleans jazz. It works beautifully as a concert closer or as the anchor of a jazz standards set, especially when you want to highlight individual soloists without shifting the entire program.

• Reading and executing swing rhythms with authentic feel
• Accompanying soloists while maintaining ensemble cohesion
• Trading solos and building collective energy
• Balancing dynamics between lead lines and ensemble soli
• Interpreting jazz articulation and phrasing conventions