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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 "Six By Six" By: Doug Beach Instrumentation: Big Band Publisher: Doug Beach Music (Distributed exclusively by Kendor Music, Inc.) Grade 3 1/2 Medium Swing Tempo = 176 $40.00 This chart is a solid blues original by Doug Beach who just keeps on turning out great music year after year. “Six By Six” is no exception and features all the elements of a great opener or closer! The strong melody, with unison band line, an open solo section as well as a wonderful shout chorus that shows great dynamic contour proves to be a marvelous teaching and performing vehicle. The intro should be strong with very crisp articulations and the rhythm section should work together to lay down a strong groove starting at measure 9. Remember that all brass figures need to be short and punchy throughout. The unison line at measure 23 should again be very clean and crisp. Be careful though not to over blow here. At measure 35 there is an open section for solos at the directors discretion with backgrounds cued at will. For the younger soloist there are 4 different sample solos on a “solo sheet” provided by Doug. This is a very helpful feature for the young soloist and will assist the students in this most important area of jazz playing. It is suggested that the last soloist be a bass player so that the intensity and volume are tapered down into the soft shout section at measure 49. This will allow this new area of ensemble playing to build dynamically. The entire chart should have a natural build into the shout chorus at measure 73. Drums should punch the brass figures here to help push the lines to their fullest potential. There is a D.S. that repeats back to measure 9 where everyone should be playing. This repeat takes you to a very strong coda and if the students follow your direction the results will be quite exciting. Top note for trumpet C above the staff Bart Marantz
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