Grade Level

Double Agent

February 17, 2019 – 10:29 pm

Grade 3

A high energy thriller working both sides of the street. Streetwise by day and suave and sophisticated by night. This chart covers all the bases from the opening rock guitar riff to the sax soli quote of Miles Davis” solo on “So What” and back again. A great showcase for the entire band. Solos for tenor sax (swing), drums (rock), and guitar (rock god status) as the chart drives to its energetic conclusion. It was selected as an JW Peppers Editors Choice.

This chart can be purchased from Baker’s Jazz and More and many retail dealers.

 

Play Demo Recording

Step On A Crack

February 17, 2019 – 10:26 pm

Grade 4 Rock style

Rick Lawn brings us a funky take on a stretched out blues form with a slippery melody and sophisticated harmonies. All goes according to plan through the melody and alto sax solo. A challenging unison brass soli follows and leads us into a unique musical environment where soloists (one, a few, or many) trade two bar phrases with the ensemble. This provides lots of room for experimentation and freedom for the improvisers since they aren’t limited to a particular harmony or chord. A brief drum solo returns to the melody and a gospel tinged coda. A challenging chart that is well worth the effort. Trumpet range is to written Bb with optional High D.

Purchase this chart from Baker’s Jazz and More or many retail dealers.

Listen to Demo Recording

Lu’s Blues

February 17, 2019 – 10:01 pm

This straight ahead blues chart was written for Springfield High School (PA) Jazz Ensemble and in dedication to its long-time award winning director Luca Del Negro. Several quotes refer backto important pieces performed by this band while the composer was a member. Solos are for trumpet, tenor sax and piano and sections could be opened up for more soloists. Brass ranges and rhythmic complexities are modest. Described by the publisher Baker’s JAzz and more: A dramatic and modern Thad Jones style take on an extended blues form makes for a challenging chart for everyone. Beginning with the opening glissando and punch, this chart announces itself in style. Muted trumpets take the melody and then hand it off to the saxes. A harmon mute trumpet solo leads to a trombone section soli (including the bass player). An interlude sets up the piano solo which is followed by a tenor sax solo. A recap of the bridge and melody leads to a recap of the intro before the ensemble builds to the final statement. A true tour de force that will showcase dynamics, style, technique, and musicianship. Trumpet to written Bb.  

This chart was selected as an Editors Choice by JW Pepper. It can be purchased here – Baker’s Jazz and More and is available from many retail distributors.

Listen to Demo Recording

A Little Minor Setback

November 7, 2014 – 2:45 pm

New From Kendor Music!!

This is a swinger in the Blue Note tradition and is based on an evolving minor blues progression. Just as the groove progresses from 2-beat swing to straight ahead 4, so does the harmonic progression which begins as a 16 bar extended minor blues. The chart builds to a solo send off for guitar, trombone or 2nd trumpet and the progression at this points has evolved to an altered blues style but now with a bridge. Backgrounds for the soloist can be introduced at will and the solo section can be opened up for multiple choruses. At this point the drummer could choose to use a shuffle feel. Audiences and musicians alike should enjoy this toe tapper.

Available from Kendor Music.

Grade Level: Medium

Instrumentation: 5 saxes, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, piano, guitar, bass, drums

 

 

The Yellow Rose (of Texas)

October 14, 2013 – 8:05 pm

Who would have thought that there was still life in an old chestnut like The Yellow Rose of Texas? Well there is in this captivating funky, hip-hop version by Rick Lawn that turns into a double time straight ahead style for solos and further development. The solo section features alto sax and any other instrument should you choose to open it up. And the drummer gets some in a solo section that features exchanges between drums and ensemble. The bass part features both written lines and chord symbols as does the piano (including some solo fills) and optional guitar part. Lead trombone is written to A above middle C and lead trumpet to written high C# with some options to high D. These difficulties plus some of the rhythmic challenges suggests that this charts should be classified between Advanced and Medium Difficult. Instrumentation: 2 Trumpets, Trombone, Alto, Tenor and Bari Saxes, Guitar (Optional), Piano, Bass and Drums

 

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Available from eJazzLines for $$33.25

The Eyes of Texas

October 14, 2013 – 6:56 pm

The Eyes of Texas, aka I’ve Been Workin’ on the Railroad, is an old chestnut that’s been dressed up in new clothes by arranger Rick Lawn. The style moves from a fast bossa or samba feel to swing and solos chord changes are provided for tenor sax, piano and guitar which is optional. Lead trumpet is written to D above high C making this chart in the medium difficult range. Bass parts are written out and chord changes are provide. Texans have never heard “The Eyes” quite this way, guaranteed! Instrumentation is Alto, Tenor, Bari Sax, 2 Trumpets, Piano, Guitar (Optional) Bass and Drums.

Available from eJazzLines  for $35

Score Download Score

Piece of Silver

June 6, 2012 – 1:41 pm

I’ve always been a fan of Horace Silver’s music, consistently brought to life by a band of the finest sidemen whether it was Tom Harrell and Bob Berg or Michael Brecker and his brother Randy. As the title suggests, this original is a tribute to Horace and is very reminiscent of his style. The 7/4 time signature makes the funky groove a little challenging, but the solo section is in 4/4.

This 10 piece band chart was recorded by Power of Ten and featured Tony Miceli, Tom Lawton, Chris Farr, George Rabbai and Erik Johnson as soloists. When we got around to mixing and mastering tracks for the CD Earth Tones we found that only 10 tracks would fit! Something had to go and you are the beneficiary! We are offering you this free download track as a bonus for following Power of Ten. Just click on FREE TRACK and it will download as an MP3 track to your computer.

Download mp3

If you also like to buy the chart, you may do that here as well. Written in 7/4, this funkly tune borrows many of the Silver trademarks and is challenging for bands not used to playing in odd meters. But once you get it it flows comfortably. Solos are for optional vibes (piano or guitar), piano, tenor and trumpet.

INSTRUMENTATION: alto,tenor, bari saxes; 2 trumpets & trombone; piano, vibes, guitar, bass and drums.

DIFFICULTY: Difficult

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Now Available from eJazzLines for $33.25

Purchase here for $30.00

 

We Free Kings

June 3, 2012 – 8:43 pm

This is my take on the Christmas season classic. It offers solo space for just about anyone and is fun to play. If you are looking for something special for those seasonal gigs this chart should fit the bill. The A section is built off of the bass line from “All Blues.”

INSTRUMENTATION:

DIFFICULTY: Medium

Score

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Play Demo We Free Kings

Buy for $28

 

Retrospect (10 piece)

June 3, 2012 – 8:36 pm

This moody soprano sax feature also features your pianist. It is also available on this site as a full big band chart. Recorded by Power of Ten on their CD Earth Tones, it is predominantly a ballad in 3/4 & 9/8, its haunting and introspective qualities yield to a short double-time chorus that also serves as a surprise intro. Lush harmonies and woodwind/horn counter-lines abound. Sax doubles. Two French horn parts are optional and cued in the saxophones.

Instrumentation:alt dbl fl, tenor dbl sop., bari dbl bass clar., 2-trumpets dbl flugel, trombone, vibes (opt), guitar, piano, bass, drums
Grade Level: Difficult

Score

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Play Demo [audio:http://ricklawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Retrospect-excerpt.mp3]

Now Available from eJazzLines for $35.15

Out on a Limb (10 piece)

June 3, 2012 – 8:35 pm

This is the 10 piece band version of the same piece recorded by the Third Coast Jazz Orchestra on their Sea Breeze label release “Unknown Soldiers.” This chart is in the classic Latin/swing “On Green Dolphin St.” style. Soloist include trumpet, tenor, piano and drums.

Instrumentation: 5/4/4/4
Grade Level: Medium-Difficult

Score

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Play Demo Out On a Limb

NOW AVAILABLE FROM eJazzLines 

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