Big Band Charts

Double Agent

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

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

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

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

 

 

No Regrets

Composed on my 60th birthday, this retrospective ballad features the beautiful lyrical flugelhorn of George Rabbai on the Power of Ten CD Earth Tones. Ballad and double time bossa feels throughout. Piano is also featured briefly as a soloist.

INSTRUMENTATION: Alto & Flute, Tenor, Bari & bass clar., 2- Trumpets dbl flugel, trombone, vibes (opt), guitar, piano, bass, drums

DIFFICULTY: Medium

Score

Download 10 Piece band score

Play DemoNo Regrets

No Regrets for 10-piece band is Now available in print form from eJazzLines

A big band version is available from Kendor Music. Check their website for details.

Amazing Grease

 

Chorale and funk tune with easy blues based changes for the beginning improvisor.

Instrumentation: 5/4/4/4
Grade Level:Easy

A RickLawn.Com Exclusive!!

 

Score

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Play Demo Amazing-Grease

Buy for $33

 

Carousel

A jazz waltz with a solo section that is not too challenging for the beginning soloist.

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

A RickLawn.Com Exclusive!!

Score

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THIS CHART IS NOT YET AVAILABLE IN MY STORE FRONT BUT WILL BE SOON.

Play Demo carousel Only this midi demo is currently available.

Buy For $33

 

Public Domain

A nice moderate swing tune based on rhythm changes and some nice Thad-like ensemble voicings. A strong sax soli and open solo sections make this chart an excellent teaching tool and concert selection for high school and college big bands.

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

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Score

 

Play Demo Excerpt Public Domain

Kendor no longer owns the rights to this chart, but it is now available here from my store!

$40 for full score and parts

 

Incantation and Dance

Commissioned by the University of Northern Iowa in celebration of 50 years in jazz education, this chart is a challenging episodic work that begins with a somewhat dark, evolving incantation that can make use of extra percussion including tympani. An Afro-Latin groove takes over (that makes use of additional perc. including marimba) that eventually moves to a straight ahead groove for solos. Solos can be for alto sax, trombone and/or rhythm player.

Instrumentation: 5/4/4/4 plus perc.
Grade Level: Difficult

A RickLawn.Com Exclusive

Score

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Sorry, no recording is available at this time.

Available from eJazzLines

Be Bop Sha-Bam

A nice straight ahead blues shuffle in the Basie tradition that can be opened up for solos. This is one of those charts that is timeless. Alto, Trumpet and Trombone solos featured. Also fine training material for blues improvisation.

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

Link to Publisher »
Order CL Barnhouse stock number 032-0159-00AR

Score

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Play Demo bebopshabam