Greg Lutz Music- Jazz Band Charts

Jazz Band Charts

Grade 1 through 4-1/2

As a professional jazz musician, Greg has played in Big Bands for almost two decades, including the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, the Cab Calloway Band, the Balcony Big Band, ensembles backing Randy Brecker, Tony Bennet, Tony Williams, John Fedchock, John Scofield, Ronnie Cuber, the Temptations, and many others.

Also a public school band director, he has participated in running the many jazz bands at Kiski Area Schools in Pennsylvania, which have been selected to play at numerous State Conferences, as well as the Midwest Conferences. Additionally, he has conducted Jazz Bands at Universities and District Honors Jazz Festivals.

These experiences have shaped the charts we offer; they're crafted with stylistic creativity as well as pedagogical usefulness. The solo sections are all designed to be accessed on several levels at once, so that experienced players and novices alike can enjoy a ride on the same tune. The ranges for the trumpets and bones are level-appropriate, as are technical passages in all instruments, and all articulations are VERY specifically marked.

Please click on the links below to hear Mp3 performances.

Build-Up Blues: (Grade 1)

(Listen to Mp3 performance by the Greg Lutz Big Band) Utilizing many of the same materials found in the "Blues Choose" curriculum we offer, this entryway chart literally builds up both rhythmically and melodically in a very accessible fashion. Crafted with the beginner in mind, this chart still swings well and has rich harmonies. The brass are entirely unison (with some octave doubling) to build confidence and reinforce articulations. The trumpets peak at one top space Eb, and the bones have an optional Db above the staff, otherwise peaking at C above the staff. Use as a capstone in your "Blues Choose" course, or just a marker along the way- it's an excellent vehicle for every band member to try their blues techniques on!

Mayberry Blues: (Grade 2-½)

(Listen to Mp3 performance by PMEA District III Honors Jazz Band)

(Listen to Mp3 performance by saxophone quartet) A blues in Bb, this simple and catchy tune is a perfect soloing vehicle for everyone in the band. The shout choruses feature some ensemble interplay with lines that are doubled across the band. The trumpets peak at their A above the staff, and the lead bone has some high G’s. Recently performed at PMEA’s District III Jazz Festival.

Spunky McGroovester and the Retractable Eggplant: (Grade 3)

(Listen to Mp3 Performance by PMEA District III Honors Jazz Band) A fun funk tune based on dissonance and cluster harmonies, there are two great gospel release/peak points, the second of which takes the lead trumpets to their High C above the staff. Sax lines reminiscent of Brecker (but playable by 8th grade kiddos!) fill in the cracks between the trumpet clusters. The solo section is the perfect vehicle for the expert and the novice alike, designed to use the blues scale through bebop to advanced modal solos over a simple dissonance…which allows the rhythm section to interface with the soloist freely without getting hung up on the changes! Recently performed at PMEA’s District III Jazz Festival.

Grits 'n Gravy: (Grade 3)

(Listen to Mp3 Performance by the Greg Lutz Big Band) A hard swinging tune with "down home" harmonies and a bluesy melody, this audience-pleaser is a great way to introduce your kids to rhythm changes in Bb. The trumpets peak at a high G in several places, and the lead bone goes up to a high F. The solo section features early big-band style backgrounds, and there is a brief sax soli before a nice shout section. A very smooth built-in optional cut removes the most difficult section, making for a flexible chart which can grow with your kids through the season.

Shady Larry, Watermelon Rose, and What The Parrot Saw: (Grade 3-½)

(Listen to Mp3 Performance by the Greg Lutz Big Band) Very cute but earthy swinger, featuring vibes, a solo bass part, and some cool snapping. The head has some sax soli work, and a triplet based blues figure that everyone eventually shares. Trumpets have two high C’s above the staff that can be taken down if needed, otherwise they peak at high A. Bones peak at high G. The solos can be navigated with the blues scale and one ii-V-I (in concert F Maj) and the shout chorus features unison horns over Krupa toms. An all-time favorite of students and directors alike, this one swept the show at the latest PMEA District III Jazz Band concert.

Urban Sprawl: (Grade 4)

(Listen to Mp3 Performance by the Greg Lutz Big Band) Hard driving fusion grooves and thick modern harmonies underscore the blues based and pentatonic melodies on this exciting chart. Although the sound is one of complex modern fusion ala Mintzer, the figures are accessible to even young bands, and the solo section can be navigated with the Bb blues scale. The Coda is unique, with no rhythm section and a dizzying weave of horn lines, ending on a beautifully simple triad. Trumpets peak at an A one line above the staff during the shout section, and there is an optional vibes part. Recently performed at Seton Hill University.

Each and Every Day: (Grade 4)

(Listen to Mp3 Performance by the Greg Lutz Big Band) A ballad in 3, piano and sax section (doubles) are featured in the at the top and end. Lead trumpet peaks at a high C# above the staff, and the lead bone peaks at high G with an optional high B and A. Solos are easily navigated by the blues scale, or advanced kiddos can follow the minor flavored changes. Towers of C Lydian melt away to nothing after the shout chorus peak.

The Continuing Adventures of Pepe the Danger Mule: (Grade 4-½)

(Listen to Mp3 Performance by the Greg Lutz Big Band) A burning salsa chart, everyone gets a piece of the action. Trumpets peak at a high D above the staff, bones at high A (optionally in ALL bones in the shout). The solos are easily navigated with simple blues or advanced latin bop. Starting with a simple montuno in the piano, the shout builds to a key changing climax.