Big Band pour les professionnels

The Tenor sax is the main focus for this piece. The intent here was to push the jazz styles boundary lines just far enough to incorporate a few minimalist ostinatos. The main idea is based on the numb...

Samba in C minor (tempo 116-120+). Written over changes similar to Aujtumn Leaves with extension. Challenging rhythms and unison figures. Room for any number of solos.

Samba in F minor (tempo 116-120+). Samba with lots of ensemble and solo sections. Counterpoint at C, big hook at B. Transition sections that make the audience listen carefully. Hook returns at the end...

5-4-4-4-. (1/2 NOTE=C.116) This is a funky chart that will wake up the crowd and the band. A great closer! A few sectiions shift to a samba feel (B,F,& J). The rhythms may look tricky, but they are qu...

A C minor blues in the style of Art Blakey. This hard driving shuffle features solos for Trumpet, Piano, and Tenor. The melody is presented with a 1950's TV vibe featuring Bari sax, Flute, and Muted T...

...is a fast modal tune (with a bridge) in the style of Coltrane. Nice feature for solo's in tpt 4, ten 1 and opt for piano or guitar. Some challenging changes to blow over. Great piece to let your br...

This is a 'blowing' tune, with minimal tutti sections. Features for bone 1, tpt 5, ten 1. A great modern Blue note feel makes this easy to program for any concert.

Written as a feature for trombonist Andy Martin, this open and ethereal piece is a study in moods. Tempo is in a moderate '1', and the woodwind tuning need to be right on for the opening to 'speak'. O...

The narrows is a tune written to depict an 11 mile hike up a river in Zion zzzpark. The hike is strenuous ans slippery and so is the melody. The A sections are 11 bars long, but the solos are typical...

An original slow blues with a 12/8 feel based on a theme composed of 'monkish' sixth leaps that ascend and descend in a somewhat acerbic manner. After developing into an entwined twisting contrapuntal...

A new treatment of the old Joe Zawinul favorite that features various two part tpt/sax voicings that build to an exciting shout chorus featuring some 16th based funk rhythms that might require some re...

Medium up tempo jazz feel with contrapuntal Holmani-esque lines further exploring the possibilities of the diminished scale both for the ensemble and soloists. Ensemble shout chorus with lots of space...

Dedicated to the passing of Bob Florence, Bill Finnegan, and Frank Mantooth. A moderate jazz waltz based on some more 'outside' non functional harmonies. Melody is introduced by harmon tpt and flute (...

A cheerful loping big 2 shuffle featuring fluegels/ altos lead. Melody is based on an extended length chorus form in sixteen bar AABA. Solo for ten/tpt and piano. Ensemble chorus does have a few high...

A new twist on the old standard - normally played as an uptempo number, this is a slowed down basie style walking tempo (ala shiny stockings) chart featuring plunger muted brass. Careful attention to...

Obviously a contrfact based on 'just friends' - fairly up tempo happy feeling straight ahead chart featuring linear counterpoint between tens/bones and tpts/altos. Solo for ten, tpt, bone followed by...

This space-age piece was written for astronaut Jan Davis, and is designed to portray the experience of spaceflight and viewing a sunrise from space. Solos for trumpet and piano. Changing time signatur...

Haunting ensemble ballad in an orchestral style. Changes for flugelhorn solo. No drums (rainstick and triangle instead.) Flute in one tenor part; lead trumpet to Bb5.

This is a lovely bolero. It is a tribute to my wife's mother who has passed away. This one is not difficult and only requires one fluegel for doubles. Fluegel and tenor are featured on the melody (Sep...

A medium-slow blues that leans lightly on Ellington and a bit heavier on New Orleans. In fact, the first chorus is stated by the trio of clarinet, muted trumpet and muted trombone that will be familia...

This chart is a fierce, mid-tempo, funk steamroller. It never varies from the basic groove of from the 12-bar blues structure. However, a simple harmonic device (sliding up and down a semitone on each...

This simple Jaujira stays largely within the traditional I-IV-V harmonic framework associated with this Cuban dance form. The unique character of this chart is created by attractive melodies, subtle o...

A medium-groove, laid-back kind of chart that features some lush brass voicings. Opens with a rubato piano chorus with the rest of the rhythm section joining for the 2nd chorus. Winds have a flute sol...

Written for a 5,5,5,4 configuration. A slow (t=56), soft ballad that features a very quiet brass section on this original melody. Solos for muted trumpet and flute lead into a Kentonish ensemble passa...