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First Chorus (Grades 1-2)     Straight Ahead (Grades 3-4)     Salsafied! (Grades 3-4)
Spotlight (Grades 4-5)     Extensions (Grades 5-6)     Mike Vax     Marching Band    Combos

STRAIGHT AHEAD (Grades 3-4)

(Grade Level 3-4) This series contains the more mainstream kinds of charts appropriate for the average to advanced high school ensemble or even a younger college ensemble. Brass ranges move above the treble clef to written C-D for the lead trumpet and down to pedal Bb for the bass trombone. Lead trombone parts usually go up to F or so. The musical language is more sophisticated, the parts more technically challenging, but still very playable. There are no written solos, just chord changes, but the changes are quite playable and the tempos quite manageable so that students can be successful as they learn more about improvising. There are no doubles for the saxes.

Rhythm parts contain some written notes but contain mostly slashes and chord symbols. Drum parts have the necessary rhythmic patterns and ensemble figures.

Another Zydobeto

Grade 4      Zydeco      Composer:Skiles/Arr:Baker      Price:$50     

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Join the street parade! The horns holler and shout back and forth before the alto sax solo takes off. Followed by a funky breakdown section and a drum solo kicking the ensemble, the parade picks up where it started and leads the way to the finish. – Trpt range to written high Bb.

Aunt I

Grade 4      Swing      Composer:Skiles/Arr:Baker      Price:$50     

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A swingin’ medium tempo 12 bar blues in the “old school” Swing Era tradition. Echoes of Count Basie’s band fill the hall. Featured soloists include piano and alto sax, and the chart can be “opened up” to present as many as you like. Lots of fun ensemble work in the shout section, too. Trumpet range is to written high C#.

BJAM Blues

Grade 4      Hip Hop      Composer:Paul Baker      Price:$50     

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A hip-hop blues in the style of the Brecker Brothers Band, this chart pays tribute to the contemporary harmonic sidesteps and sly melodic lines so often found in their music. A simple drum groove begins the chart, and this can be opened up as a feature spot for the drummer, followed by the rest of the rhythm section setting up the foundation for the chart. Trumpet and tenor sax are featured, naturally, and changes for alto and trombone are included as well. Trumpet. range is to written high C.

Bucky’s Bounce

Grade 4      Swing      Composer:Skiles/Arr:Baker      Price:$50     

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Bebop meets Benny Goodman’s band in a challenging romp for the ensemble. Featured soloists are tenor sax, trumpet, and piano.The bari and bass trombone get a good workout, too. Trumpet range is to written high C.

By the Time You Hear This - alto sax feature

Grade 3      Ballad      Composer:John Mills      Price:$45     

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This soulful ballad captures complex emotions and offers a positive and reaffirming chorus. There is plenty of room for the soloist to present the melody as well as a significant improvised solo. The score calls for trumpets, but flugels are preferred if available for the entire section. Trumpet range is to written high C.

By the Time You Hear This - tenor sax feature

Grade 3      Ballad      Composer:John Mills      Price:$45     

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Same chart as alto feature, but re-orchestrated for tenor sax soloist.

By the Time You hear This - trumpet feature

Grade 3      Ballad      Composer:John Mills      Price:$45     

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Same chart as alto feature, but re-orchestrated for trumpet or flugel soloist.

Clarks' Bop Shop

Grade 3      Swing      Composer:Kris Berg      Price:$45     

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Commissioned by the Clark Cougar Jazz Band of Frisco, Tx., Kris Berg has created a layered approach in this swing chart based on the chord changes of Dizzy Gillespie’s “A Night in Tunisia”, and provides each section with some meaty material, including an extended sax soli. Solos are offered for tenor sax and trumpet, and the drummer gets to shine, too, in and around the ensemble. Trumpet range is to written G on top of the staff.

Cruzin’ In The Cad

Grade 4      Swing      Composer:Skiles/Arr:Baker      Price:$50     

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The top is down, the Strip is swingin’ and the Rat Pack is back in town. Featured soloists include alto sax and trumpet and a surprise bass ride. Trumpet range is to written high C.

Dancin’ Daddy Al

Grade 4      Swing      Composer:Skiles/Arr:Baker      Price:$50     

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Daddy Al must have had a great sense of humor and been a big fan of the jitterbug. The piano sets the tone with a rousing shuffle swing pattern that leads us into the melody. After a quick transition we’re off into the tenor solo. Another ensemble section followed by Gene Krupa’s floor toms and we’re into the trumpet solo and the shout chorus, moving up through the keys. A quick unison ensemble line takes us to the finish line. Trumpet range is to written high C.

Mama Ruth

Grade 3      Swing      Composer:Skiles/Arr:Baker      Price:$45     

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Mama Ruth completes the family portrait (collect the entire set!) with a fun medium swing groove, and she definitely has an eye for fun and the attitude to go with it. Featured soloists are tenor sax and trumpet. Trumpet range is to written high B.

Nick Brandon, Private Eye

Grade 4      Ballad      Composer:Paul Baker      Price:$50     

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Welcome to the shadowy underworld of bluesy saxes and unexpected plot twists. Similar to Harlem Nocturne, Nick Brandon covers the waterfront keeping a watchful eye on the bari (or tenor) and trumpet soloists and dodging the sax soli with the double time feel before solving the case and fading away into the mist. Trumpet range is to written high C.

Pellalarigram

Grade 3      Swing      Composer:Paul Baker      Price:$45     

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(pronounced Pella – Larry – Gram) Available as a trumpet feature or ensemble arrangement, this chart is dedicated to the smooth 1960’s West Coast jazz stylings of the Dave Pell Octet and features an easy swinging flugel (or trumpet) melody which will showcase one or two of your trumpet players. Also featured is Pell’s unique “little big band” sound of a smaller ensemble in the intro and solo backgrounds. However, after the solos, the full force of the entire ensemble is unleashed on a hard swinging shout section that drives the chart to its finish. Solos for tenor sax and trumpet. Trumpet range to written high C.

Riffin' on the Duke

Grade 3      Swing      Composer:Paul Baker      Price:$45     

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Based on the chord changes of Duke Ellington’s famous “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore”, this chart offers a fresh take with a new bebop melody that winds through each section of the ensemble. Also included are a number of quotes from other Ellington standards. Look and listen carefully. How many can you find and name? Introduce your students to those tunes as well. Solos for trumpet, trombone, alto sax, and piano or guitar. Trumpet range is to written high C.

The Vegas Shuffle

Grade 4      Swing      Composer:Paul Baker      Price:$50     

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This is a great contest/festival chart! A high energy shuffle swing tune that shows off every section of the ensemble, this programmatic tour de force depicts scenes from an imaginary trip to Las Vegas, from the bright lights of the Strip and brassy casino showrooms to the wiseguy on the street and other temptations. Solos for trombone and muted trumpet are featured along with a bluesy sax soli and some drum business along the way. Trumpet range is to written high D, trombone to Ab.

The Woozy Dude Blues

Grade 4      Swing      Composer:Paul Baker      Price:$50     

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In the trademark style of iconic jazz composer Thad Jones, The Woozy Dude Blues is a hard swinging 12 bar blues in Bb which makes extensive use of his advanced harmonies. Keeping with that tradition, there’s also an acapella stop-time section to lead off the sax soli and solo space that can be opened up for as many soloists as desired. Also evident is Thad’s legacy of programmatic writing. Listen carefully and you’ll hear our Woozy Dude twisting and turning and even running into a few things in the process! Trumpet range is to written high D.

Third Ear

Grade 4      Contemporary      Composer:Paul White      Price:$50     

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A contemporary straight 8th chart with great dynamic contrasts and modern modal harmonies. Tenor sax is featured on the melody. Lots of room for soloists to really stretch out on very playable changes. Solos for tenor sax, piano, and drums. Trumpet range is to written High D Harmon mutes for the trumpets.

“This Band Needs A Blues” Blues

Grade 3      Swing      Composer:Paul Baker      Price:$45     

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Originally written for the 2004 Texas Region 18-5A All-Region Jazz Band II, this is about as straight ahead as it gets – 12 bar blues, medium Basie-style swing, key of Eb. Originally written to provide solo opportunities for all who wanted to play, we ended up with eight(!) soloists on the concert. Trumpet range is to written high C.