Ensemble

Written just prior to the birth of his first child, MacDonald captures the anxiety and trepidation associated with 'the pre-fatherhood jitters'. His creepy melodic material and pensive harmonic settin...

A very lyrical jazz ballad featuring tenor. A bit of Kentonish flavor. Trumpet section needs some power.

Dirtiest, ugliest, greasiest 12/8 blues. Should make you think of K.C. in the '30's. Features trombone soloist and an alto solo. Shout chorus should wipe out back wall in your rehearsal room. Trumpet...

Contemporary rock piece in the spirit of Wayne Shorter's 'Condition Red' Brass chorale starts it off. Plenty of surprises. Long soprano sax solo with guitar solo.

Funky chart needs a lot of rhythmical precision and chops in the brass. Band shouts behind soloist, then trades fours with drummer. Altos and tenors double briefly. Baritone and drum solos. Recorded b...

An up-tempo, flag (pennant?) waving arrangement of an American classic. A 'Four Brothers' like sax soli will challenge your reed section. Open solos.

Composed by Paul Yonemura and arragned by Neal. A really happy jazz samba with a great (and challenging) set of changes. Don't let the key scare you (concert A major), this one lays great. A firey sho...

Jazz waltz with an 'All Blues' flavor. Some poly chords and 'dark' voicings give a mysterious feeling. Open for any soloist (all have changes).

Composed by Paul Yonemura and arranged by Neal. Dedicated to jazz drummer Jack Taylor. A bebop flavored tune that features a horn combo on the head. Ensemble chorus has some tricky rhythms and a sudde...

Commissioned by SW Missouri State Univ, Jerry Hoover, director. Up tempo closer based on classic Basie tune 'Jumpin' at the Woodside.' Some uneven phrases make it tricky. Sax soli and a wild shout cho...

The long awaited sequel to Sammy Nestico's classic 'Ya Gotta Try.' Up tempo opener. Piano solo starts it off. Solos for both tenors trading 16 bar phrases and ending up playing together. Lots of work...

Unusual modal tune with atypical phrase cycle. Melody has small 4-horn 'band within a band' concept. Solo section open for any soloist. Piece combines 'west-coast coll' subtleties with just good old b...

Super-funky chart that's a real crowd pleaser. Short funk solos from tenor 1, tenor 2, alto 2 interspersed around the head. Change of groove goes half-time for a trombone solo that builds. Tenor1 foll...

Commissioned by the late baritone saxophone master, Nick Brignola. A bebop style duet for baritone saxophone and trombone. Both get to blow on the changes and blow 'fours' at each other. Ensemble work...

Come on board the 'Starship Ellington' for a futuristic look at big band jazz. A three movement work that utilizes some unusual sounds and timbres.1) 'Beyond Conventional' A modal tune featuring ensem...

Great Menza blues chart. A must for every book now available. Recorded by Louie Bellson on East Side Suite.

Just as the title indicates, this chart burns. Recorded by Don Menza & his 80's Big Band.

Another great Menza chart now available. Recorded by Don Menza & his 80's Big Band.

What a great classic. A must for every book. Recorded by Louie Bellson Explosion.

A classic Menza chart. Recorded by Don Menza & his 80's Big Band.

One of Don Menza's favorite charts. Recorded by Louie Bellson on East Side Suite.

This great drum feature was recorded by Charles Rutherford's Pacific Jazz Orch Collage on Sea Breeze Jazz.

Nice Tenor feature. A must for every library. Recorded by Charles Rutherford's Pacific Jazz Orch Note Walker on Sea Breeze Jazz.

Another great chart. Recorded by Don Menza & his 80's Big Band.

Medium up shuffle. Solos for Guitar & Trumpet w/opt'l Tenor sax solo. Great sax soli w/a roaring shout chorus. No dbls. Recorded by Charles Rutherford's Jazz Pacific Orch - Note Walker - on Sea Breeze...