The Southeast Sixstep: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

Richards writes for what your ensemble can actually do while pushing them forward musically. The 6/4 meter never feels forced; it emerges as the natural home for this chart's groove, and the balance between straight eighths and swing phrasing gives students a real rhythmic puzzle to solve together. High-level writing that sounds as good as it is challenging.

A groove that settles into 6 with surprising naturalness, then pulls you into swing without losing that foundation. Richards hints at Pat Metheny's harmonic sensibility, creating a sound that's both modern and rooted in jazz tradition. The sax soli and solo space give it personality; the shout choruses give it punch.

Advanced jazz ensembles ready for Grade 5 complexity and musicians mature enough to navigate metric ambiguity without losing ensemble cohesion. This chart rewards sections with strong fundamentals and directors willing to spend time on the unique rhythmic character Richards has created.

• Lock the ensemble's sense of 6 before rehearsing the swing sections. Have the rhythm section feel the 6/4 pulse internally even when the melody shifts into swing phrasing; this prevents the chart from collapsing into straight 4/4.
• Balance the sax soli so the section feels unified but each voice articulates with clarity. This is where your saxophone section shows what it can do.
• Give the tenor sax and trumpet 2 soloists space to breathe during their sections. These aren't just featured moments; they're opportunities for individual voices to shine within the ensemble context.
• Approach the lead trumpet range (written to C above the staff) as a musical statement, not a technical display. Confidence and tone matter more than speed through that register.

Feature this on a jazz festival or concert where you want to showcase your ensemble's rhythmic sophistication and individual soloists. It pairs well with more traditional swing charts, providing contrast through its metric distinctiveness while maintaining that crowd-pleasing energy.

• Reading and maintaining 6/4 meter while navigating swing feel
• Balancing rhythmic precision with expressive phrasing in contemporary jazz
• Executing sax soli with sectional unity and articulation clarity
• Comping and rhythm section interplay in non-standard meters
• Solo improvisation and featured voice writing within ensemble context
• Lead trumpet range extension and tone production at the top of the staff