This medium-tempo swing chart has a cool bluesy quality. Using an ever-changing palette of tone colors and textures A Minor Shade of Blue also features many smaller ensembles within the overall group. A vibraphone part adds to the color but is not required. In addition there are no solos to worry about — just great ensemble writing that features every section while also combining sections for interesting colors. Fantastic writing for big band! (3:00)

Check out this hot swinger from John Dilkey. It moves tastefully several times between a heavy shuffle beat and a straight-ahead swing tempo. A pulsating triplet feel drives this one all the way. John has thrown in a couple of key changes near the end to push the shout chorus even higher. It's definitely a sure-fire winner!

Reminiscent of the great Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Band this tune settles into a nice groove after a tongue-in-cheek intro that's sure to bring back visions of the Groove Merchant. Rachel has scored this fine original to feature the saxes on the head and later the tenor in the solo spotlight complete with changes and a suggested written-out part for the developing jazz musician. Check it out for your festival program.

Score and Parts-Alan Hovhaness' The Flowering Peach suite from Clifford Odets' musical retelling of the legend of Noah's Ark which opened on Broadway on December 28 1954.This suite from the incidental musicfor the play occasionally quotes complete movements from the actual stage production. In other places it presents a logical expansion of the music which in its shortened form fitted into specifically-timed scenes within theplay.Instrumentation: Alto Saxophone Clarinet Vibraphone Tam-Tam Timpani Piano and Harp.

Hot-hot-hot may be the best way to describe Ken's new arrangement of this old jazz classic. Written in a driving three the piece starts off with bass alone and gradually adds the rest of the band. A great groove with a wonderful opportunity for your tenor to shine.