What You Dealin' With: Bass Trombone
What You Dealin' With: Bass Trombone Sheet Music Preview

What You Dealin' With: Bass Trombone

By Wycliffe Gordon

Grade: 4 (Medium Advanced / Difficult)

Item: 00-PC-0016717_BTN
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Description
This is the show closer that will bring down the house. The main groove is a funky boogaloo at 103 BPM plus a band chant, a swing section, and a gospel feel. Flexible solo space with written solos provided for trombone 1, alto, tenor, and trumpet 2, and lead trumpet range is to high C. Hey, there's something for everyone! (6:05)

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Additional Details
Series: Premier Jazz Series
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 74
SKU: 00-PC-0016717_BTN

More about this title

About the Composer: Wycliffe Gordon

Wycliffe Gordon is a trombonist and composer whose work bridges New Orleans tradition with contemporary jazz expression. His arrangements and original compositions for jazz ensembles are known for their infectious grooves, accessible yet sophisticated harmonic language, and the way they energize both performers and audiences.

Why we love this

This closer delivers exactly what a festival or concert finale demands: immediate energy, built-in audience engagement through the band chant, and enough solo real estate that your soloists will feel featured without the piece becoming a showcase that derails momentum. The structural variety (boogaloo, swing, gospel) keeps the ensemble sharp and gives every section something distinctive to lock into.

What to expect

Funky, infectious, and built for celebration. The boogaloo groove carries an earthy New Orleans soul, while the gospel feel and band chant inject joy and call-and-response energy that naturally pulls the audience in. By the time the swing section lands, the piece has already won the room.

Who it's for

Jazz ensembles at the medium-advanced to advanced level (high school, college, or accomplished community groups) looking for a finale piece that combines strong musicianship with audience appeal. Ensembles with soloists confident enough to handle trombone 1, alto, tenor, and trumpet 2 features will get the most from this.

How to get the most out of it

  • Establish the funky boogaloo pocket early in rehearsals; lock the rhythm section (bass, drums, and comping) before layering horn lines so the groove becomes the foundation everyone plays over.
  • Prepare written solos thoroughly with your trombone 1, alto, tenor, and trumpet 2 players, then leave space in rehearsal for them to find their own voice within those changes.
  • Balance the band chant so it lands as a unison moment without drowning out the soloists or groove underneath; think call-and-response clarity rather than sheer volume.
  • Manage the lead trumpet's high C passages with dynamic awareness; the range is demanding but the voicing should sit naturally rather than strain for projection.

How to use it

Reserve this for the final spot on a concert or festival set where you want to send the audience home energized. The 6:05 length and high-energy trajectory make it ideal for closing a set of more serious repertoire, or it can anchor the finale of a full jazz program.

Skills your students will build

  • Playing and maintaining a funk/boogaloo groove in ensemble
  • Soloing over changes with written material as a launching point
  • Blending into a band chant and responding to ensemble call-and-response
  • Navigating multiple stylistic sections (boogaloo, swing, gospel) within one piece
  • Lead trumpet range extension and control in the high register

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