Work in Progress: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

This is Goodwin's big band writing stripped down to what your ensemble can actually execute. The orchestration captures his signature groove and harmonic sophistication without the jaw-dropping lead trumpet ranges or instrumental demands that typically lock Grade 5-6 charts away from most programs. You get the authentic Big Phat Band sound your students recognize, making the chart feel less like educational repertoire and more like the real thing.

Funky, contemporary, and built on a groove you can feel immediately. The melody sits confidently in the lead trumpet's accessible range while the harmonies underneath shimmer with jazz sophistication. This is modern big band jazz that swings hard without pretension.

Jazz ensemble directors who want to program authentic Goodwin writing but haven't had access to pieces that fit the range and technical demands of a Grade 3 group. Players at this level get to experience professional big band arranging and the satisfaction of executing charts played by working jazz ensembles.

• Balance the written-out solos carefully; they're engineered for clarity and forward motion, so resist the urge to swing them too freely or linger on phrase endings.
• Keep the ensemble tight on rhythmic hits and section punches; Goodwin's phrasing sits right on the pocket, and even small timing slips disrupt the intended groove.
• Take full advantage of the open solo section to feature strong improvisers in your section. The chart gives you the harmonic framework; your soloists bring the energy.
• Lock in the rhythm section's subdivision early. The supporting parts depend on solid time feel from bass and drums to lock the ensemble together.

Program this as a contemporary anchor in a jazz concert where you're mixing eras or styles. It pairs well with classic swing standards and newer funk-influenced pieces, and the accessibility means you can prepare it thoroughly enough to program with confidence at festival or concert settings.

• Soloing over jazz chord changes (with written examples provided for E-flat and B-flat instruments and trombone)
• Big band ensemble articulation and phrasing consistency
• Reading and executing syncopated rhythmic figures at tempo
• Listening and locking to rhythm section time feel
• Dynamic control and balancing written parts against soloists