Edition: Jazz Small Group Arrangement

Description: Swing - Easy

Publisher: Walrus Music Publishing

An Introduction to Improvisation: Six Trios for Flexible Instrumentation is intended for instrumental musicians who have the ability to read music and perform at an intermediate level, but have never had the opportunity to build the skill of improvisation. Each composition is composed for a trio of flexible instrumentation, including treble and bass voices as well as the piano. Each part incorporates varying elements of improvisation. Included with each composition is an improvisation guide. This guide is intended to aid the novice improviser in interpreting the notation to create an improvised solo. Included are parts for piano, concert pitch instruments, Bb instruments, and Eb instruments.

 

Benny's March:

Benny's March is composed in a Benny Golson style 'Jazz March.' Although there is some harmonic movement behind the melody, each instrument has the opportunity to solo over a three-chord vamp in a Dorian mode.

 

Buzzler's March:

Buzzler's March was composed in recognition of the giant bumblebees that have ruined my poodle's lazy afternoons. It is in a slow 3/4 meter and features the harmonic-minor mode. The solo section allows the bass and treble clef voices to explore the harmonic minor modes in the keys of C, F, and G over a piano ostinato. The piano ostinato can also be embellished to add to the spontaneity of the piece, and allow the pianist the opportunity to improvise in the harmonic minor modes.

 

Ghost Flower:

During the introduction of Ghost Flower you can hear the flower slowly bloom over a common tone progression in A minor. The harmony circles around the pitch E. The composition then reveals the mystery of the 'Ghost Flower,' which exists in the exotic sound of the A Phrygian mode.

 

Pablo's March:

Pablo's March was composed for my cat. He is an excellent soccer player, and enjoys samba music. The melody is composed over a simplified version of Sonny Rollins' Doxy. The chord changes are relatively diatonic and allow the soloists the opportunity to explore the concert Bâ™­major and pentatonic scales, as well as trying to outline the basic chord tones over the third phrase (of the four total phrases). Pablo’s March is an excellent transition from improvising modally to executing chord changes.

 

Slow Crawl:

There are times when we all feel like life is a “slow crawl.” We often want events to move faster (or slower) than our surroundings will allow. Slow Crawl represents a struggle to find a compromise to life’s pace. During Slow Crawl members of the trio have the opportunity to embellish a melody and explore pentatonic, whole tone, and blues scales. A simple arpeggiation exercise is included to assist the soloists with taking the step to improvising over the simple harmonic progression.

 

Zill Bomb:

Zill Bomb is made up of two sections, which represent the moods of my cat, Blackzilla. The first is based on a dominant seventh chord, with a sharp ninth added (for example G7♯9 at the beginning). The character is very mysterious, as though he is sneaking up on his prey. This alternates with a section of ferocious Zill Bomb intensity, which is based on the harmonic minor mode. The improvisation section is built on this theme and allows the ensemble members to explore the G harmonic minor scale.

Full Score
Piano
Parts for C, Bb, and Eb instruments