Concert Band - Level 4 - Digital Download
SKU: A0.986863
Composed by Ben Pritchard. Arranged by Ben Pritchard. 20th Century,Jazz,Latin,Rock. Score and parts. 19 pages. Benjamin Pritchard #5465. Published by Benjamin Pritchard (A0.986863).
This piece was originally written for jazz ensemble and then arranged for concert band. This was done, in part, to make available concert band literature that utilizes jazz/rock instruments (guitar, bass, piano) and improvisation. There are many arrangements of rock and pop tunes available to band directors. While those arrangements sometimes include bass parts they rarely, if ever, have guitar or piano/keyboard parts. Why not? Why not include these parts, even if they are optional? In addition, I’ve noticed that there is very little concert band literature that involves improvisation. Again, why not? I believe that this is the concert band literature of the future – the integrated utilization of electric guitar, keyboards, and improvisation. This piece is my first attempt at such a venture. Having just finished the premier performance of the original jazz ensemble version of 7 to 9 I thought it would be a good platform. Most of 7 to 9 transitions between 7/4 and 9/4. It is a fun, quirky piece with a Latin feel. There is a short 5-bar swing section in the middle for open solos. There is also a one chord solo section later in the piece for less experienced improvisers. The students will really enjoy putting this together, especially with the electric guitar, piano, and bass. It adds a completely new dimension to the concert band as well as an overall excitement. The piece ends with a long building Latin groove with a jam feel to it. The guitarist ends this build with an improvised solo which soars above the rest of the band. It is a fun piece to play but requires a great deal of focus due to the changing meter and odd phrase lengths and entrances. There is only a midi recording available at this time. A live recording will be available soon.
