Advanced Jazz Ensemble

When Bill Holman writes a feature for a player, especially in the Kenton Band, you know it will be wonderful. He wrote this one to feature the amazing trombonist Carl Fontana. Sierra Music dedicates t...

As recorded by the Stan Kenton Orchestra on 'Adventures In Standards', this is a medium, swing chart on a great tune. Lennie uses a very clever countermelody throughout the arrangement. There is solo...

Here is another terrific chart as recorded by the Stan Kenton Orchestra on Adventures In Standards. Lennie sets the chart at a very fast, swinging pace, using countermelodies, a 6-horn group in places...

As recorded by the Stan Kenton Orchestra on 'Stage Door Swings', this medium-up swing chart comes roaring out of the chute with a brass 'pop' and leads into the piano stating the melody. There is addi...

Mulligan's writing for the Kenton Band was fairly minimal in quantity but extraordinary in quality. He had a profound effect on the band and the writers to follow him. This composition was recorded in...

This may be the all-time greatest jazz arrangement of a standard tune. Also from the Contemporary Concepts LP (1955). This great standard is turned into a marvelous vehicle for solo statements from al...

Another terrific chart from Kenton's Contemporary Concepts LP. Features trombone throughout this fast-paced, Cool Bop chart in the unmistakable style of the late, great Gerry Mulligan. Use this with 3...

There were a few Holman charts that were written for the Stan Kenton Orchestra which had disappeared over the years, seemingly lost forever. This was one of them. However, Sierra Music is proud to hav...

When Lennie arranged for the Stan Kenton Orchestra, he was able to capture the Kenton sound without a lot of high-range problems or difficult concerns for the players. Solo space for trombone. Recorde...

Lennie Niehaus wrote a series of terrific arrangements for the Stan Kenton Orchestra (this was recorded on the 'Stage Door Swings' CD). This chart is a medium-swing version of a great Rodgers & Hammer...

As recorded on the new Les Hooper Big Band CD 'Out of the Woods,' this clever, quirky, swinging chart is terrific. Alto, tenor, trumpet and trombone state the tune, with interjections by the rest of t...

If you know the marvelous 1959 recording The Jazz Soul of Porgy and Bess, as recorded by the Bill Potts Big Band (Phil Woods, Zoot Sims, Sweets Edison, Art Farmer, Bob Brookmeyer, Bill Evans and other...

This is the Opener on the 1959 The Jazz Soul of Porgy and Bess album, and it is a great opener for any live concert as well. It is an up-tempo, swinging version of Gershwin's tune. Potts is a master a...

If you know the marvelous 1959 recording The Jazz Soul of Porgy and Bess as recorded by the Bill Potts Big Band (Phil Woods, Zoot Sims, Sweets Edison, Art Farmer, Bob Brookmeyer, Bill Evans and others...

As recorded on the album The Jazz Soul of Porgy and Bess (featuring the Bill Potts Big Band), this chart swings hard, but it isn't hard to play. Bill arranged this in a wonderful contrapuntal fashion....

As recorded on the new CD 'The Bill Holman Band Live', this chart is a vibrant, clever, swinging original. It was Bill's opening tune at the I.A.J.E. conference concert, and the audience went nuts for...

This was written for Doc Severinsen to premier at the Midwest Band & Orchestra Conference. It is a bright, swinging chart that features trumpet throughout (of course). This can be performed with an ou...

This is a fast-paced, swinging opening movement, with lots of solo space for alto sax, tenor sax, trumpet and drums. There is also plenty of high-powered ensemble playing throughout. This serves as a...

As recorded by the Toshiko Akiyoshi-Lew Tabackin Big Band on the album Road Time, this feature for solo flute includes solo room for alto sax and piano as well. By contrasting a series of transparent,...

Another re-scoring of the original arrangement done for Stan Kenton. A lower key for younger players. No solo piano. A GREAT CROWD PLEASER which serves as a wonderful encore piece. (10 brass)

As recorded on 'Maynard Ferguson Plays Jazz For Dancing' (Roulette), this may be the prettiest chart that Willie did for Maynard's band. It is a great standard tune, and the chart features trumpet thr...

Not every Niehaus dance chart was recorded by the Kenton Band, but this chart was played all the time by the band. A wonderful medium tempo setting of a great jazz standard. Features the saxophone sec...

This is a wonderful feature for baritone saxophone! It was recorded by the Stan Kenton Orchestra on the Kenton '76 CD. It opens with a slow, pensive melody (bass and soloist only) and continues with b...

From the Progressive Jazz period in the 1940's, this piece focused on the alto saxophone (originally played by George Weidler).5-5-5-4

As recorded by the Stan Kenton Orchestra on 'Artistry in Rhythm' (and many other CDs). This classic composition was written to feature Shelley Manne on drum set. This new edition was created, with ful...