Thieves In The Temple: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

Hearing Prince's funk sensibilities filtered through a jazz ensemble arrangement creates an immediate engagement that students rarely expect from their typical repertoire stack. The Herbie Hancock connection gives the piece musical legitimacy while the pop origin keeps it accessible, making this a rare title that satisfies both the director seeking musical substance and the ensemble craving something contemporary and cool.

A late night funk club translated into daylight school setting. The groove is infectious and grounded, the harmonies spicy without being overcomplicated, and the solos invite personality and risk. There's a coolness to the sound that comes from the marriage of Prince's melodic sensibility with Hancock's jazz sophistication.

Grade 3 jazz ensembles with solid section reading and at least one or two capable soloists who can navigate changes. This works equally well for a group with strong rhythm section players and less experienced soloists as it does for a more evenly balanced ensemble.

• Lock the groove pocket before worrying about accuracy. This arrangement lives in the space between rock precision and jazz swing, so your rhythm section needs to feel the funkiness first and the written notes second.
• Emphasize the space between phrases rather than rushing to fill it. Prince's music thrives on silence and anticipation, which prevents the ensemble from sounding cluttered when the soloists enter.
• Shape the horn lines with the articulation and air of a funk band, not a classical section. Shorter tonguing and a slightly harder attack than typical ballad playing will unlock the intended character.
• Give soloists room to reinterpret their changes and add their own language. The funky rhythm section foundation is set; soloists should feel permission to play outside the head arrangement.

Place this in a jazz concert bracketed by other contemporary or rock-influenced arrangements to show the range of the ensemble's musical vocabulary. It also serves as a gateway piece for students who might not otherwise connect with traditional jazz standards, opening doors to conversations about harmony and groove across genre boundaries.

• Balancing funk rhythmic feel with jazz ensemble precision
• Reading and performing syncopated rhythm section parts
• Soloing over changes with stylistic awareness
• Coordinating ensemble dynamics in pop-influenced arrangements
• Listening to bass and drums as a reference groove