Wizard Wheezes (from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince): 4th Trombone

López captures the playful spirit of Diagon Alley's most mischievous shop with swinging rhythms and bright orchestration that feels both recognizable and freshly interpreted for a jazz setting. Your ensemble gets to perform music from a beloved film while developing core big-band skills, and the Grade 2 voicings make this achievable for younger or developing jazz groups without compromising the groove.

Bright, bouncy, and playful. This arrangement channels the whimsy and mischief of the Wizard Wheezes shop with a classic swing feel and accessible harmony that lets the ensemble sound more sophisticated than its Grade 2 difficulty would suggest.

Jazz ensemble directors working with intermediate or developing groups who want engaging, film-based repertoire that doesn't require advanced reading skills. Students new to big-band style will find clear jazz vocabulary and straightforward voicings that build confidence in the ensemble setting.

• Nail the articulation in the rhythm section; the swing feel depends on crisp attacks from the drums and bass locking in together from the first phrase.
• Balance the melody line so it sits on top of the ensemble swell without overpowering the brass backing figures.
• Shape the dynamic arc across full sections rather than measure-to-measure; this arrangement builds momentum through layering, not through constant dynamic shifts.

Program this for a movie soundtrack or pop music concert alongside other film-based arrangements to draw an audience interested in contemporary music. It also works well as a fun finale to a rehearsal block focused on jazz history and style, or as an approachable stepping stone for groups preparing to tackle more complex big-band literature.

• Reading and performing jazz articulation and swing feel in a full ensemble context
• Ensemble listening and balance within a big-band texture
• Understanding chord changes and harmonic movement typical of jazz arrangements
• Rhythmic precision and coordination within a rhythm section-driven ensemble