Unleash the Chicken: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts
By Kris Berg
Grade: 2.5
Item: 00-PK-0008753
$52.00
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Description
Oh yeah, a funky New Orleans groove garnished with chicken flavor! Played at around 160 BPM, the lead trumpet range is to written G on top of the staff and includes suggested written solos for tenor 1 and trombone 1. Very accessible writing that will please. (4:15)
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Additional Details
Series:
Young Jazz Ensemble
Publisher:
Alfred Music
SKU:
00-PK-0008753
More about this title
About the Composer: Kris Berg
Kris Berg directs the jazz studies program at Collin County Community College in Texas, where he earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees in jazz studies from the University of North Texas. His arranging and composing work has circulated globally through performances and recordings, establishing him as a prolific voice in contemporary big band writing for Belwin Jazz.
Why we love this
Berg captures infectious New Orleans funk without losing sight of what makes music work for developing ensembles. The parts sit comfortably across the section, the suggested solos give students a genuine improvisational entry point rather than a sink-or-swim moment, and the groove itself is so accessible that students actually enjoy playing it repeatedly in rehearsal.
What to expect
A second line parade filtered through a 1970s funk lens: greasy, swinging, and impossible to sit still through. The New Orleans DNA pulses under modern groove sensibilities, creating something that feels both rooted and contemporary.
Who it's for
Jazz ensembles at the high school and early college level looking for repertoire that balances entertainment value with genuine musicianship. This piece works equally well for a group building soloing confidence or one seeking a set-closer that actually gets an audience response.
How to get the most out of it
- Lock the rhythm section into a tight pocket at 160 BPM during the first rehearsal; once the groove sits, everything else locks into place naturally.
- Have tenor 1 and trombone 1 practice their suggested solos independently before blending them into the ensemble texture; Berg's voicing allows the soloists to breathe without getting buried.
- Keep the lead trumpet punchy and clear on top; the written range to G keeps the part playable but demands articulate phrasing to cut through the funk.
- Use the four-minute-plus duration to explore dynamic contrast between the ensemble hits and the groove sections; repetition becomes your friend when you shade the texture.
How to use it
Program this as a spring concert finale or jazz festival opener; the upbeat character and familiar funk vocabulary make it an ideal bridge between ensemble and audience. It also pairs well with ballads or standards earlier in the set, offering contrast without demanding a full gear shift from your ensemble.
Skills your students will build
- Playing funk grooves with rhythmic precision at moderate tempo
- Comping changes within a jazz blues framework
- Solo construction over chord changes (tenor 1 and trombone 1)
- Lead trumpet articulation and phrasing in a high-energy ensemble texture
- Section cohesion and pocket playing in a New Orleans-influenced idiom