From Belwin Jazz Friday, June 22, 2018
recommended by Ben Huntoon, Jazz Specialist
Free Download by Victor Lopez, Grade 1
“Free Download” by Victor López is an easy-to-play Latin bossa with everything written out for the rhythm section and no individual solos. The tempo is around 148 BPM with very accessible brass ranges and plenty of optional parts to include two flutes, two clarinets, and vibraphone. The students will enjoy the title too!
Five Spot After Dark by Benny Golson/arr. Mike Story, Grade 1
A jazz standard played by all the greats, this swing chart is ideal for every young band. Played around 132 BPM, all the ingredients are here: easy tempo, easy ranges, written solos for tenor and trumpet, shout chorus, clear rhythm parts, and plenty of optional parts to include vibes. This one hits the spot!
So Danco Samba arr. Victor Lopez, Grade 2
This great samba that alternates with a brief swing feel. This great samba alternates with a brief swing feel. The tempo is around 158 BPM and it’s tasty with some clever quotes you’ll recognize. Features include written solos for tenor sax, a few piano montuna interludes, and accessible brass ranges. This is a fine Latin samba chart!
Cheep Shot by Kris Berg, Grade 3
We’re back with another chicken-titled funk chart! Written solos are provided for trumpet and tenor but you could add guitar if desired. Lead trumpet range is too written B-flat above the staff with optional high C. The chart is played around 160 BPM and has a great bass part and a sweet drum backbeat too.
Makin’ Whoopee by Walter Donaldson/arr. Dave Wolpe, Grade 6
Bass ‘bone players can count on one hand the good charts available for their instrument. Well, here is one of the best, arranged by Dave Wolpe. A medium-swing feel, this showcase will bring the best out in your bass trombone player with no improvisation, just written melody. There is some (written-out) jazz for 2nd trumpet in harmony mute, and the lead trumpet has a unison line to written high E. A nice sax soli is the icing on this cake. An outstanding feature chart.
The Nutcracker Suite arr. Billy Strayhorn & Duke Ellington, Grade 6
This edition of Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker Suite,” arranged in 1960 by Billy Strayhorn and Duke Ellington, was assembled from the original manuscripts held in the Strayhorn Repository and the Ellington Collection of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History. For purposes of accuracy, the manuscripts were cross-checked carefully with the original Duke Ellington Orchestra recording (Columbia CS 8341).
About the Author:
Ben Huntoon is the Jazz Education Consultant at Stanton’s Sheet Music. He received bachelors and masters degrees in music from Capital University and The Ohio State University respectively. As a professional trumpeter, Ben is accomplished in a wide variety of genres and has performed throughout the Midwest on many stages over the past 30 years. He also teaches trumpet, coaches brass ensembles and has served on the jazz faculty at Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio.