Trofeo de Bolos: Score
By Craig Skeffington
Grade: 3 (Medium)
Item: 00-PR-0004468
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Description
A clever and interesting Latin chart with a mesmerizing melody, composer/arranger Craig Skeffington captures it all in "Trofeo de Bolos." Features include: a written solo for 1st alto, lead trumpet to written A above the staff, a nice stop-time ensemble section and an open drum/percussion solo. An effective chart that is easy to rehearse---just what you need! This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Trofeo de Bolos: Score comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
Jazz Band Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
98
SKU:
00-PR-0004468
More about this title
About the Composer: Craig Skeffington
Craig Skeffington brings two decades of composing experience across jazz, marching, and wind band idioms, with a portfolio shaped by commissions and real classroom demands. His fifteen years directing high school band earned him the 2003 MMEA Teacher of the Year award, and he has served on the faculty at the University of Southern Maine. Beyond the podium, Skeffington has performed professionally with Barry Manilow and Natalie Cole, and toured with the Artie Shaw Orchestra, giving him deep familiarity with the jazz tradition he writes in.
Why we love this
Skeffington understands what works in the rehearsal room. The piece is Latin-based with genuine harmonic interest, but the architecture is clean enough that students grasp the form quickly. The written alto solo and stop-time section give soloists room to shine without leaving the section floundering, and the open drum break keeps percussionists engaged.
What to expect
Bright, sophisticated, and movable. The mesmerizing melody has a modern jazz sensibility that feels contemporary while the Latin underpinning keeps everything grounded and danceable. There's a sense of playfulness in the writing that makes the ensemble sound like they're genuinely enjoying the ride.
Who it's for
Grade 3 jazz ensembles ready for Latin jazz vocabulary and moderate solo responsibility. The chart works for high school groups still building their jazz chops, as well as advanced middle school ensembles with confident lead players.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the mesmerizing melody against the Latin groove in the opening statement; the tune should float over the rhythm section rather than fight it.
- Use the stop-time section to lock the ensemble in rhythmic unison. Mark the exact subdivision for each player so the ensemble articulation feels deliberate.
- The 1st alto solo benefits from space. Set a clear tempo with the rhythm section first, then let the soloist breathe and shape the line without rushing.
- Prepare the open drum/percussion solo by rehearsing the ensemble's hits and punch points separately, then bring the rhythm section back in gradually for a cohesive re-entry.
How to use it
This fits naturally in a jazz concert's middle section, bridging standard swing charts and more experimental material. It also works well paired with other Latin jazz selections to build a thematic set, or as the closer to a mixed-genre evening if you want to send the audience out feeling energized.
Skills your students will build
- Playing Latin jazz rhythm figures (clave, montuno, tumbao patterns)
- Balancing solo voice against ensemble accompaniment
- Executing stop-time ensemble articulation with precision
- Reading and interpreting written solo lines over jazz changes
- Coordinating with rhythm section for groove consistency across sections