Jazz Ensemble Releases
Fish Face
Excelcia Music Publishing 2020
Grade 2
Fish Face is a tune that will have you making an expression like you just smelled something foul or heard something funky! Spoiler alert: It's the second one...the tune smells fine. Young jazzers will have a blast performing this chart while directors will appreciate educational opportunities related to style changes and melodic interpretation. Also, early improvisors will have fun playing over very approachable changes that offer a slight diversion from a typical Bb blues.
Sidetracked
Excelcia Music Publishing 2020
Grade 2
Sidetracked (But Not Derailed) is a minor blues that is essentially written in AABA form. The A sections follow the same chord progression as John Coltrane’s “Mr. PC” while the B section is inspired by the Coltrane’s “Locomotion.” Since “Locomotion” is a blues with an 8 bar interlude I thought it would be fun to play with the same concept in a minor blues. The title aims to represent this concept while also hinting at an overriding train (or “Trane”) theme. Sidetracked But Not Derailed was written for the Summit Middle School Jazz Ensemble (NJ) and their director, Justin Toomey.