Unleash the Chicken: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score

Berg writes for young ensembles with genuine funk credibility. The New Orleans groove and accessible writing at Grade 2.5 mean your students will sound confident and rhythmically grounded without navigating dense voicings or extreme ranges. The built-in solo opportunities for trumpet, tenor saxophone, and trombone give multiple players a chance to shine.

Funky and warmhearted, with the swagger of a New Orleans second line. The tempo sits at a comfortable swing (160 BPM) where rhythmic precision becomes musical, not labored. Playful and unpretentious, this piece gives every player permission to lay back and enjoy themselves.

Jazz ensemble directors working with intermediate students (Grade 2.5) who want to build groove and solo confidence without overextending ranges or reading difficulty. This score works equally well for groups still developing ensemble blend as it does for experienced combos ready to dig into style.

• Lock the ride cymbal and bass drum together to anchor the funky pocket; this groove lives or dies by rhythm section cohesion at 160 BPM.
• Let the trumpet soloists breathe naturally through the written sections; Berg's suggestions are guides, not constraints.
• Balance the saxes lightly behind the trumpet throughout the A section; the lead voice should cut without the section drowning it out.
• Emphasize the articulation markings in the ensemble hits; clean, unified tonguing will sharpen the New Orleans flavor.

Program this as a crowd-pleaser in a concert featuring multiple jazz ensemble works; its accessibility and upbeat character pair well alongside more challenging or contemporary selections. It also works as a sectional warmup or adjudication piece for festivals where you want your ensemble to demonstrate solid fundamentals and stylistic awareness.

• Swing rhythm and pocket feel at a steady medium tempo
• Leading and accompanying roles within the jazz ensemble texture
• Solo construction and improvisation scaffolding (written suggestions as starting points)
• Section articulation and ensemble precision in funk-style hits
• Range management for trumpet (written to G above the staff) and confidence in accessible voicings