Edition: Jazz Big Band Arrangement

Description: Contemporary - Medium

Publisher: Walrus Music Publishing

Commissioned by the Spencerport High School Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Shawn Halquist & Andrew Stoker

The title may refer to:

- A kind of soulful, human quality that should be applied to this work, even though it contains very little that sounds like the blues or funk. It's a melody-driven piece that needs to have red blood in it.

- The way we use the word 'touch' when talking about how a pianist plays, for example, in the feeling and sound they get through their physical contact with the instrument.

- A restrained kind of contact that allows one to get a sense of warmth, life, or the subtleties within something; 'touch' as opposed to 'strike.'

The rhythm section feel throughout is somewhere between a kind of Latin-soul and modern jazz straight 8ths (the so-called 'ECM feel'). Alto sax & trombone have the soulful tune and have improvised solos over a limited set of modal changes - suitable for high school level improvisers. Lead trumpet never gets above 1st ledger line A5, but the chart affords a good young band a mature musical experience.

Full Score
2 Alto Saxophones
2 Tenor Saxophones
Baritone Saxophone
5 Trumpets (Trumpet 5 Optional)
3 Trombones
Bass Trombone
Guitar
Piano
Bass
Vibraphone
Drums

Trumpet 1: A5
Trombone 1: F4