What Is Hip: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

$48.00 USD

What Is Hip: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

Name: What Is Hip: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-41161
Price: 48.00 USD
Availability: InStock

Words and music by Emilio Castillo, Stephen Kupka, and David Garibaldi / arr. Victor López

Grade: 2 (Medium Easy)

Item: 00-41161

Need it now?

Buy Digital Version

$48.00

Shipped

One moment…

If you are looking for easy yet hip, this is it. A funky Tower of Power hit, this chart is accessible at 166 BPM with no solos and trumpet 1 range is to F top line. Fun to play. (2:35)

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, What Is Hip: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

Open in the Player

Jump straight in and assign it today.

Start Your Free Trial

Open this title and explore the full library in minutes.

No sample videos found.

Series: Young Jazz Ensemble

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 102

UPC: 038081481012

SKU: 00-41161

More about this title

About the Composer: Emilio Castillo

Emilio Castillo is a saxophonist, composer, and founding member of Tower of Power, the legendary funk and soul band that emerged from Oakland in 1968. His contributions to the band's sound helped define West Coast funk, and his compositions remain staples of contemporary jazz and popular music. Castillo's work emphasizes groove, accessibility, and the joy of ensemble playing, qualities that have made Tower of Power's catalog invaluable to jazz educators and student musicians.

Show moreShow less

Why we love this

Victor López's arrangement captures everything that makes Tower of Power essential listening without demanding advanced technique. The groove sits perfectly at 166 BPM, the ranges stay practical (trumpet 1 tops out at F), and there are no solos to slow down rehearsals, yet the arrangement stays absolutely funky. Your ensemble will sound confident and genuinely cool from the first playthrough.

What to expect

Infectious, propulsive, and undeniably groove-oriented. From the first few bars, the ensemble locks into a pocket that feels alive and energetic. The arrangement breathes with the ease of music written by people who understand how ensembles actually play together.

Who it's for

Jazz ensembles at the Grade 2 level looking for material that sounds professional and feels genuinely fun to play. This works equally well for newer ensemble programs seeking accessible repertoire with real style, and for experienced groups wanting to add verified crowd-pleasers to their concerts.

How to get the most out of it

Establish the groove in the rhythm section first. Lock the kick drum and bass line together before layering in the horns; the pocket here is everything.
Keep articulations crisp in the horn sections. The funkiness depends on precise attacks and releases, not volume.
Balance the ensemble so the melody line cuts through without the horns sounding thin. Check that your trumpet and alto are proportional to the tenor and baritone parts.
Let the ensemble breathe with the phrasing. This is a groove piece, so allow natural space between phrases rather than pushing straight through.

How to use it

Program this as a closer or a high-energy mid-concert moment. It pairs well with both traditional jazz standards and contemporary charts, and works equally as an opener if you want to set an upbeat tone. The runtime of 2:35 makes it efficient for concert flow while still delivering a complete musical statement.