Ensemble

The year 2009 saw the passing of legendary singer Yma Sumac - the exotic Peruvian Songbird who flourished in the 1950s, yet her music is heard in numerous movies and soundtracks even today. Here is one of her signature tunes (heard in Death to Smoochy) in a marvelous Michael Mossman arrangement.

Featuring some of the leading jazz musicians on today's scene, the Grammy-nominated Swingin For The Fences presents contemporary big band jazz at its best. Includes: Sing Sang Sung, Count Bubba, Samba Del Gringo, Bach 2-Part Invention in D Minor, I Remember, Swingin' for the Fences, Mueva Los Huesos (Shake Your Bones), Second Chances, There's the Rub and A Few Good Men.

This swingin' Basie-style shuffle starts out with a piano chorus followed by the saxes and finally a roaring brass section. Also featured are solos for tenor and trumpet and a fabulous shout chorus that starts quietly then builds to the end. Just hard-hitting swing as only Mark Taylor can deliver.

Originally recorded by the Beatles, John Wasson's version is actually closer in style to the hot rock/shuffle version recorded by Earth, Wind and Fire. Plenty of energy and tight ensemble figures with a great groove.

What's that sound? It's full of surprise and honesty; joy and sadness, strength and improvisation ... it's gotta be jazz! And it's America's music! Experience the history and development from New Orleans up the Mississippi to Saint Louis and Chicago and around the world. Find out why original jazzers had interesting names like Dizzy, Satchmo, Lady Day, Jelly Roll and Yardbird! Jam-packed with jazz history and fun facts, this unique revue features an original theme song and 5 jazz classics in kid-friendly arrangements, narration for up to 50 or more speakers, riser choreography by John Jacobson and professionally-produced recordings in true jazz form! Extend learning further with The Story of Jazz, a spectacular full-color timeline and recorded history complete with narration and music excerpts of jazz standards spanning over a hundred years. Enjoy the sounds of Ragtime, Blues, Dixieland, Swing, Big Band, Bebop, and more! Jazz music is only a little over a hundred years old and it is always changing. Who knows what it might sound like in another hundred years? Available: Teacher Edition, Singer 20-Pak (in full color), Performance/Accompaniment CD, Classroom Kit (all components). Duration: ca. 30 minutes. Suggested for grades 4-8.

In the skilled hands of Mark Taylor, here is a swingin' arrangement of this classic Ray Brown jazz waltz that features the saxes and plenty of great-sounding ensemble writing. This offers a nice style change for festivals or concerts.

Few purely instrumental tunes ever reach the level of popularity achieved by this familiar '60s hit by Booker T. and the MG's. Often used in TV and film, this infectious tune has a bluesy groove that's unmistakable and still hip after all these years. (Includes full performance CD)

This slow cooking shuffle tune became a trademark for Booker T. & The MG's. Roger has done a nice job of adapting it for young players while keeping the feel of the original. Includes solos for alto or tenor and trumpet, but anyone could solo on this with the easy chord changes.