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Bart Marantz NPR/KERA Jazz Education Interview    Click below to listen to the interview  Click below to read the article 
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 Reviews "Down Roberto’s Way" Written and Arranged By: Les Sabina Instrumentation: Big Band Publisher: Kendor Music, Inc. Grade 2 1/2 Latin/Bossa Nova Tempo = 132 $40.00 “ Down Roberto’s Way” is an excellent piece for young bands who want to learn the “Latin” style of “Bossa Nova.” Les Sabina has written a very nice melody which directors will enjoy using as a teaching tool for middle school and young high school big band The key word for this chart is “relaxation.” The style of Bossa Nova brings soft winds on a secluded beach to mind and to attain this “laid-back feel” the bassist and drummer must lock into a groove and keep their parts simple throughout the chart. Any type of overplaying from these two musicians will keep the ensemble from attaining the true relaxed feel of the Bossa Nova. The other members of the rhythm section (piano and guitar) have important “answering” parts, call and response, throughout the chart. Make sure these parts are played with confidence or the effect for which they were intended will be unrealized. Although most of the melodic material is legato in concept, beware that background figures should be punchy in order to contrast with this smoothness of the melody. If your alto soloist decides to improvise his/her solo rather than using the one which is provided, show how they may rely exclusively on the F concert blues scale. Make sure that the written dynamics are observed throughout the arrangement. This is imperative if the chart is to sound it’s best as Les wrote it. The bridge measures 20-26 and 99-105 are especially crucial in this area. “Down Roberto’s Way” is and excellent composition and if played with these suggestions will be a wonderful musical experience for your students as well as the audience listening. Top note for trumpet is F# in the staff. Bart Marantz
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