The Woogie: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score

Gordon's arrangement captures the raw energy of boogie-woogie and swing without overcomplicating the parts, and the structural flexibility to play it as either a shuffle or boogaloo groove gives you real programming choice. The solo opportunities across the full ensemble (brass, reeds, and drums) mean every section gets a moment to shine, and the connection to the Jazz at Lincoln Center curriculum means you're teaching from a nationally recognized framework.

The Woogie swings hard and makes you move. Built on the boogie-woogie piano tradition, it channels the groove of Kansas City jazz while staying grounded in the shuffle and blues language that resonates with young players. Whether you're playing it uptempo and loose or as a laid-back boogaloo, the chart has personality and conviction.

This conductor score serves jazz ensemble directors working with intermediate groups (high school bands, advanced middle school ensembles, or community youth programs) who want chart-driven jazz instruction that connects to a larger curriculum. Players need secure fundamentals in their instruments and comfort reading jazz notation, but the accessibility of the parts and the energy of the piece make it a gateway for ensemble members new to jazz.

• Lock in the rhythmic feel early in sectionals. Whether you're playing this as a shuffle or boogaloo, the groove lives in how the rhythm section interprets the pulse; spend rehearsal time on that foundation before layering the ensemble parts.
• Use the solos to rotate players into leadership roles. This chart gives you seven different solo vehicles; take advantage by preparing multiple musicians in each section so players experience improvisation as a learnable skill, not a novelty.
• Pay attention to how the horns sit behind the rhythm section. In swing and boogie contexts, punch and pocket matter as much as precision; the chart only works if your trumpets and trombones listen actively to the drums and bass.
• Encourage soloists to respond to the groove rather than play over it. Remind them that the written feel and the recorded reference are there to guide phrasing and articulation, not to lock them into metronomic playing.

Program this as a standalone jazz concert opener to set the tone for a night of ensemble playing, or pair it with another chart from the Jazz for Young People Series to demonstrate how different grooves and eras can coexist in a single concert. Its accessibility and energy also make it an excellent anchor piece for an educational jazz unit, especially if you're using the Lincoln Center curriculum materials in conjunction with rehearsal.

• Reading jazz notation and articulation symbols
• Playing swing eighth notes and shuffle rhythms
• Listening and responding to rhythm section grooves
• Improvisation and solo construction (for featured soloists)
• Ensemble balance in jazz voicings
• Blues and boogie-woogie harmonic language