Think (from The Blues Brothers): Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score

This arrangement captures everything that makes "Think" work: a groove that locks immediately, solos that feel natural rather than shoehorned, and brass writing that sits comfortably in first-year ranges. Mike Story has done the hard work of stripping the song down to its essentials without losing the attitude that made Aretha's original unforgettable.

Funky, confident, and immediately recognizable. The groove sits in your body the moment it starts, carried by a bass line and drums that refuse to quit. When the horns come in, there's a sense of ease and swagger; this is music that knows exactly what it wants to say.

First-year jazz ensembles and developing big bands that need a strong groove number without complex harmonic demands or extreme ranges. The written solos make it accessible for students still building confidence as improvisers, while the arrangement respects what a young ensemble can actually execute.

• Nail the backbeat pocket before worrying about tempo. The drums and rhythm section are the backbone here; lock them in together first, then layer the horns.
• Treat the written-out solos as models for the style, not as untouchable transcriptions. Encourage soloists to find their own voice within the groove while keeping the same rhythmic vocabulary.
• Balance the horn section so the melody line sings over the background. Aretha's original thrives on clear separation between the hook and the arrangement.
• The brief drum solo is a gift. Give your drummer space to breathe and swing; it's a chance to showcase individual musicianship within an ensemble context.

Perfect for opening a jazz concert or closing one with real energy. This piece works equally well as a standalone feature or nestled between more complex charts to give your section players and audience a moment of pure groove. Consider programming it early in the season as a morale booster while your band is still building technical skills.

• Locking into a groove and maintaining rhythmic precision within an ensemble
• Interpreting written solo lines and building stylistically appropriate improvisation
• Balancing melody and background parts in a small-group ensemble context
• Understanding the relationship between rhythm section and horns in a funk/soul arrangement