Heading Home for Junior Big Band
Jazz Ensemble - Digital Sheet Music

Jazz Ensemble Jazz Ensemble - Level 1 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.955736

Composed by Phil Thrift. Instructional,Jazz. Score and parts. 62 pages. Phil Thrift #6037863. Published by Phil Thrift (A0.955736).

Heading Home is a new, easy swing number for junior big band. This was originally a song and so essentially has a verse-refrain form. All the sections have something to do and there are short solos for the lead players. A tempo range is suggested so that bands with different abilities will be able to attempt this piece.
Following the intro, which uses the "refrain", the main theme is stated by unison saxes. The brass enter in the continuation of the main theme, with the saxes now in harmony. Unison trumpets then play the refrain and that is followed by the first solo section, which is cued in the lead alto sax, tenor sax, trumpet, and trombone parts as well as the optional flute. A solo is suggested but the chords are included so that players can try out their own ideas. This section is followed by a brief bridge passage played by the trombones and lower saxes. After that we hear the second part of the main theme again, which is followed by unison trumpets playing the refrain and another short solo section. At the change of key, the trombones and lower saxes take over the main theme at first. Following the final refrain, the outro with its walking bass, cross-stick now added to the rhythm, and syncopated accompaniment beneath a sax or flute solo ensures that this piece really is "heading home", although it concludes on a quiet note.
The actual notes of these charts are easy, but this piece still demands full concentration and that "tight" playing so crucial to the big band sound. Unison passages will test intonation. For players new to swing, I hope it will help them to become familiar with this style of music.