Jazz Charts with Reduced Instrumentation

A swingin' blues but with a fun twist: 13-bar blues! Suggested solos are written for tenor sax, trumpet, trombone, and some brief drum set fills. The trumpet range is up to a written E top space. Your

Here's a great vehicle for teaching your younger jazz ensemble how to swing. Originally a blues tune from 1919, this familiar song has become an often recorded jazz standard. John Berry's updated version

Beantown Blues Parade is an upbeat New Orleans second line groove for developing jazz bands. It is very accessible with features, including written solos for trumpet 1 (or trumpet

Blame It on the Blues is the perfect vehicle for developing jazzers to learn the essentials of swing rhythms and phrasing. Doug Beach knows how to do this kind of chart very, very well and this one

Young jazzers deserve their chance to be in the spotlight, and here's a perfect vehicle for aspiring young stars. This bluesy swing chart features the saxes on the melody with commentary from the brass

Everyone needs an infusion of the blues now and then, and this chart delivers! With a swinging melody, ensemble work at all dynamic levels, and spots for your soloists, this chart offers an abundance of

Finally, a test that students will look forward to taking! This straight-ahead swinger is ideal for teaching swing rhythm interpretation and improvising on a blues scale. Equally suited to any program,

This medium swing original for developing groups is a riff-based blues in the tradition of the Count Basie and Duke Ellington bands. Blues You Can Use begins with the rhythm section setting the

Recorded on the 1956 album Cookin' with the Miles Davis Quintet, this jazz standard composed by pianist Red Garland adapts beautifully for young jazzers. With a moderate tempo, a riff-based melody, and

This laid-back, easy-going swing chart at the very easy level is a perfect introduction to the blues for aspiring jazz musicians! Bluesy melodies and swinging rhythms will teach basic style in a way that is

Here's a great way to introduce the music of Count Basie to your young players. Carefully scored for young groups, this medium swing chart composed by Frank Foster and Count Basie trades the melody between

Wow, this is great! Mike Story has created an ideal easy swing/shuffle chart on a great blues melody by Sweets Edison. Centerpiece is accessible with easy brass ranges, a medium swing tempo of

Have you got the Fake News Blues? This chart is the cure! It's a medium-tempo shuffle chart for young ensembles that features the full ensemble along with written or improvised solos for the

This straight-ahead blues has it all! From an easy swinging melody that gives way to cool counterpoint, it leads to solos that are open for all. All players have an opportunity to improvise on a

The exciting and fun introduction moves to a big band swing with a roaring finish that will have your developing group sounding like pros! The open solo section (written or ad lib) can be played by any

Welcome to Mardi gras, y'all!! Kick It is a New Orleans style swinger with a funky second line groove over a blues progression. Appealing ensemble trades with the drummer add more excitement

From the First Place for Jazz Series comes this minor blues chart that features swinging lines and intricate counterpoint for young jazz ensembles. The features include a short "rhythm out" section that

Patterned after the familiar version recorded by Ray Charles, this effective swing chart for younger players opens with a hard-hitting introduction followed by a sultry solo trumpet on the stop-time

Here is the perfect combination of an infectious melody, great scoring and many of the swing figures that are essential for young players to learn. Midnight Express is a medium swinger and features

Based on the blues in F and featuring a catchy riff traded around the ensemble, here is the perfect swing chart for beginning jazzers! Rick Stitzel carefully uses tutti rhythms for ease in learning, and the

Wow! This tribute to jazz legend Oscar Peterson is a wonderful way to expose developing players to one of the icons of jazz history. Blues-based changes help to make this chart accessible while the