Uptown Funk (feat. Bruno Mars) (arr. Paul Murtha): Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

Paul Murtha's arrangement delivers the swagger of the original without losing any of its infectious energy. The Grade 3-4 voicings give your ensemble a contemporary sound that actually excites students, while the structure keeps technical demands reasonable so the focus stays on pocket and attitude rather than chops.

Polished, confident funk with a touch of retro soul. The groove sits in that sweet spot where the band sounds effortless and the audience can't help but move.

Jazz ensembles looking for repertoire with genuine swagger and contemporary appeal. Directors who want their students engaging with music that matters to the culture outside the school building.

• Lock the rhythm section into a locked, slightly behind-the-beat feel. The groove depends on cohesion between drums and bass, not precision in the traditional sense.
• Push the brass stabs to be punchy and articulate. They're response figures, so they need snap to answer the vocal line effectively.
• Keep the solo section laid-back. Tension comes from restraint here, not from running faster or playing louder than the ensemble.
• Balance the vocal against the ensemble so the groove remains the star. This arrangement serves the song's pocket first.

Place this in a spring concert or end-of-year program where you want a crowd-pleasing moment. It pairs well with jazz standards while showing students that the ensemble can own contemporary material with the same musicality they bring to anything else.

• Playing behind the beat with precision and intention
• Syncopated rhythmic figures in brass sections
• Balancing solo melody with ensemble groove
• Dynamics control in funk-based articulation
• Reading and executing brass stab figures with synchronization