MUSIC MOVES
Vince Gassi
Ellen Rowe
Doug Beach
Brad Ciechomski
Kris Berg
Lars Halle
Tom Garling
Joe Snyder
Dave Hanson
Craig Skeffington
Greg Yasinitsky
Peter Blair
Carl Strommen
Jeff Jarvis
Jamie Roth
George Shutack
Mike Tomaro
Bret Zvacek
Michele Fernández
Dear Directors,
I am honored to present our latest catalog of Jazz Ensemble music for 2025-2026. These pages are filled with new musical works from Kendor Music Publishing and Doug Beach Music, created by imaginative composers to move students forward in terms of musical development, as well as to move musicians and audiences emotionally.
Available with our new music are free resources to aid in selection and teaching, such as professional live recordings, ScoreVideos, and the new addition of digital program notes that are easy to access and timesaving for directors.
On behalf of all of us at Kendor Music Publishing, thank you for the work that you do, in the classroom and beyond. We’re eternally grateful for any opportunity to play a part in your Jazz Ensemble’s success!
Blair Bielawski Jazz Editor
CONTENTS
KENDOR JAZZ QUEST SERIES
Over the Moon
Based on the chord changes to How High the Moon by Morgan Lewis Carl Strommen
Master arranger Carl Strommen has a knack for making easy charts for young ensembles sound full and solid, and “Over the Moon” is a great example of this talent. Filled with lots of tutti rhythms and ensemble figures, this piece will be a breeze to put together for a developing jazz ensemble. (2:15) QJK2501
Wishing You a Merry Christmas
The 12 Days of Christmas, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, Good King Wenceslas
Traditional Carols
Arranged by Carl Strommen
After a short, smooth, and legato introduction, the chart moves into a bright jazz-rock feel as arranger Carl Strommen weaves together a tapestry of favorite holiday songs. After the intro, the piece stays in one tempo, allowing it to come together quickly, which makes it an ideal choice for the first holiday concert of a young ensemble. (2:04)
But Here’s the Thing
Terry White
Set in C minor, this swinging new blues chart by veteran composer and educator Terry White uses some of the most essential rhythmic figures as the building blocks of the tune. This makes it an exceptional choice for introducing swing style to a younger group, yet there is enough “meat on the bones” to make it an excellent concert selection as well. (2:54)
GJK2501
Play at the Plate
Kris Berg
$45.00
Your band will love the minor vibe of this chart, and you will love it because it is a textbook on dynamics, jazz phrasing, and articulation.
Composer Kris Berg has hit one out of the park with this exciting swing chart. There are unique opportunities to feature multiple soloists trading fours in the improvisation section. (3:18)
GJK2503
Light the Way
Bring a Torch Jeanette, Isabella
Traditional French Carol
Arranged by Peter Blair
Set as a light jazz waltz, arranger Peter Blair has done a great job of making this traditional carol fresh and interesting without obscuring the tuneful melody. The ensemble is featured throughout, with plenty of melodic material for everyone. (3:00)
GJK2505
$45.00
Energize!
Vince Gassi
Using some techniques that are usually only found in upper-level charts, Vince Gassi has created a very hip and sophisticated rock chart with a lot of vitality and drive. This is a surprisingly hard-hitting piece for music at this level, and your rhythm section will love the groove of the chart! (3:12)
GJK2502
Shut It Down!
Brad Ciechomski
We are thrilled to welcome well-known composer and educator Brad Ciechomski to the Kendor catalog! He has come up with a fun-filled swing ride that cooks from the opening bass lick to the final brass punch. You’ll find lots of dynamic contrasts that will show off the abilities of the ensemble. (3:04)
GJK2504
$45.00
KENDOR
KENDOR
KENDOR JAZZ TREK SERIES
Sweetie Pie
From The Jazz Commandments
Jerry Tolson
Arranged by Peter Blair
This is a tune from Jerry Tolson’s landmark book called “The Jazz Commandments”. It is one of the many compositions in the book that Jerry uses to demonstrate jazz articulation and style. The chart is loaded with standard rhythmic figures that are the foundation of jazz and will help students capture the essence of the style. (2:59)
TJK2501
Bayview Drive
Greg Yasinitsky
$50.00
If you are looking for a cooking shuffle for your next performance, give “Bayview Drive” a listen. Greg Yasinitsky is a master of developing melodic ideas, ensuring that each section of the chart brings a fresh spin to the music. There is a ton of energy in this chart, and it will be a blast for your band to unleash it (3:35)
TJK2503 .
You Do You
Jamie Roth
Plug ‘n Play
Jeff Jarvis
Jeff Jarvis is well-known for his outstanding funk and rock compositions for advanced groups, and he has captured the intensity and groove of those pieces in this accessible chart. You will recognize Jeff’s distinctive harmonic language from the opening piano riff. This is a fun one! (4:20)
TJK2502
$50.00
Get ready to rock! Check out the funky horn licks and the driving rhythm section groove on this one. It has a bit of a throwback vibe that your band and audience will love. Perfect for a home concert! (3:56)
TJK2505
$50.00
$50.00
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Lewis H. Redner
Arranged by Greg Yasinitsky
Here is a fresh twist on a timeless carol. Set in an uptempo Latin style, this arrangement couples a tasteful new harmonic foundation with a cool groove to create a chart that will be the highlight of your holiday program. The focus is on the ensemble, with a short solo for Alto Sax in the middle section. (3:45)
TJK2504
Art Of Life Etudes For Saxophone 25 Etudes Derived From A Single Device Or Scale Source Denis DiBlasio
25 short-themed individual sounding etudes that represent positive attributes for guiding a great life! Some of the exercises transpose through as many as 12 keys within an etude. 21030
$13.95
Whether you are a veteran jazz educator or a band director with minimal jazz experience this resource offers field-tested strategies to help you offer the best possible training for your students. In addition to the many printed music examples in the book there are over 150 MP3 audio recordings that compliment the text available for download.
Doug Beach
Jarvis
Riddle Me That
Joe Snyder
Kendor is delighted to welcome composer Joe Snyder to the catalog! This medium-up swing chart was written for the 2024 Tennessee AllState Jazz Band. There is a great “brass only” section after the solos that makes this chart something special! (2:53)
JJK2501
Currents
Vince Gassi
A gentle ballad is always a welcome change of pace in a high-powered concert, and this Vince Gassi original is the perfect chart to fill that slot. There is a lyrical solo line for the Trombone, with beautiful muted brass backgrounds. The piece builds in intensity, moving through several keys, and features some lush musical moments that are the high points of the chart. (3:22)
JJK2503
Scott Road Sprint
Craig Skeffington
Arranged by Terry White
“Scott Road Sprint” is an up-tempo swing chart composed for the 2024 Maine All-State Honors Jazz Ensemble. Composer Craig Skeffington and arranger Terry White collaborated to create this dynamic piece, which combines Bebop lines with big band swing. This chart performs well at a variety of tempos, ensuring it sounds great even at a medium-up groove. (3:51)
JJK2502
Full Steamin’
Dave Hanson
Wow! This chart swings from top to bottom. The vibe of Don Menza’s tune for Buddy Rich, called “Groovin’ Hard”, is at the heart of this new chart by Dave Hanson. It’s a great opener or closer for a festival performance! (4:56)
JJK2505
The Holly and the Ivy
Traditional
English Carol
Arranged by Jeff Jarvis
Jeff Jarvis has transformed this simple eightmeasure carol into a full-blown jazz waltz for a big band. Jeff created a clever introduction and several transitional passages with a ton of cool chords to make the chart sound interesting and fresh from beginning to end. This will add some sparkle to your holiday concert! (3:25)
JJK2506
Old Havana
Brad Ciechomski
KENDOR JAZZ SUMMIT SERIES
The Extra Mile
Lars Halle
Featuring a duet of Alto Sax and Flugelhorn on the melody, this bright samba moves effortlessly into a swing groove for the B section of the tune. The distinctive harmonic vocabulary of the chart helps make it a standout at this level. There is solo space for Tenor and Bari, followed by a soft and rhythmic ensemble section. (3:22)
SJK2501
Here is a vibrant big band Bebop chart that showcases a number of soloists as well as the full ensemble. Composer Craig Skeffington has brought new light to ‘rhythm changes’ with this piece, making it an ideal choice to open or close a festival performance. (4:22)
The opening portion of this Latin Rock chart is set in C minor at 144 bpm. The rhythm section parts are well-notated, and the chart grooves along before kicking into high gear with a Piano montuno at 215 bpm to set up the burning second section. A great workout for the whole band! (3:39)
JJK2504
Jet Ski
This freewheeling chart redefines what a big band funk chart is all about. Composer Vince Gassi sets up a unique rhythmic groove that is incorporated throughout the piece. This one is high-spirited fun for the whole band! (2:47)
SJK2502
Caveat Emptor
The Attack of the Pink Dolphins
Ellen Rowe
$60.00
Commissioned by the Florida Bandmasters Association, this chart from Ellen Rowe is a celebration that combines hip-hop and straightahead jazz. The band will need to play with some swagger on this piece—it has serious attitude, and the whole band will need to be in the groove! (5:18)
SJK2504
$60.00
The Holly and the Ivy
Vince Gassi
FULL SCORE EDITIONS
Switch in Time Grade 4
That Warm Feeling Grade 3
Recorded in 1968 on the album Basie Straight Ahead this slow swinger defines the Basie style at this tempo. While not overly demanding technically, this chart will challenge even the best bands to play with balance, blend and rhythmic nuance. If you listen to the original recording, you can hear Count Basie playing Hammond Organ behind the band. Bucket mutes are essential in the brass to get the right color for this music. (3:15)
Grade 4
This is the sound and groove that helped define the Count Basie Orchestra for a decade. Medium swing, brass in bucket mutes and smooth as silk chord changes are at the heart of this chart. It flows along at an understated simmer and then jumps up at you for a brief phrase before it settles down again. (3:59)
Hay Burner
Grade 4
Sammy Nestico loved horses and many of the titles he chose for his music reflect that love... Hay Burner is a perfect example. Aside from being a great straight ahead swing chart, there is also a tip of the hat to country music. As with all of Sammy’s music there is ample opportunity to show off the dynamic shadings that are available in a big band. (5:38)
Another hit from the Basie Straight Ahead album is this driving swinger in F minor. This chart gives the band a great chance to really play soft and make a huge build over an entire phrase to a fortissimo. The music needs to be played with some serious attitude to make this piece soar. (5:18)
The Queen Bee Grade 4
The quintessential recording of this chart was captured on the 1968 album called Basie Straight Ahead. Unlike many of Sammy’s charts for Basie, this one starts with the Saxes and rhythm section instead of the more typical Piano solo. Brass will need bucket mutes to get the right color in the ensemble, and while this chart is not as fast as a piece like Magic Flea, it still demands the ensemble to play at their highest level to make the chart swing. (3:37)
Ya Gotta Try Grade 4
This exciting chart was recorded by both the Count Basie Orchestra and the Buddy Rich Big Band. As you may know, Buddy Rich did not read music, and Sammy tells the story that Buddy heard this chart rehearsed once and then played it perfectly. It is worthwhile to compare the Basie version to the Buddy Rich recording to analyze the different approaches each ensemble took to the music. (4:08)
Magic Flea
Grade
5
Recorded on the landmark album Basie Straight Ahead, the tempo Sammy has indicated on the score is “Mucho Fasto” which gives you an idea of the flagwaver that is Magic Flea. Another great recording of the chart was recently made by the well-known hr-BigBand (Frankfurt Radio Big Band) which is definitely worth checking out. A full workout for the entire ensemble! (5:44)
$60.00
Second Chance
George Shutack
George Shutack is a name that has long been associated with excellence in music for young jazz ensembles. His new chart “Second Chance” is a winning choice for any program. Straight ahead swing figures, blues changes and there is a wealth of ensemble work in this chart, too. Perfect for concert or festival! (2:54)
FDB2501
Fresh Cut Fries
Doug Beach and George Shutack
$45.00
Doug
Hot Salsa Café
Doug Beach & George Shutack
This driving salsa chart is sure to be a hit not only with the band, but with the audience as well. The infectious groove, the solid ensemble writing and the catchy melody all combine to create a perfect chart for your next program. And the Jazz Foundations scoring guarantees that the chart will work with virtually any instrumentation. (2:15) FDB2502
Who doesn’t love fresh cut fries? And who doesn’t love an easy to play blues chart with an infectious melody, great scoring and many of the swing figures that are essential for young players to learn? Further, the approachable blues changes in F concert make this a great chart to encourage young players to improvise. With flexible scoring, this chart is accessible to groups with any instrumentation. (2:55)
FDB2503 .
Chili Pepper Purée Doug Beach
A driving latin feel is the foundation of this new chart from Doug Beach. With a strong melody, solid voicings and an open solo section, this piece will be not only a great concert or festival choice, but also a wonderful vehicle for teaching young players this important style. (2:22)
Midnight Alley Doug Beach
Great scoring and a solid melody make this straight-ahead swing chart a great choice for younger bands. The minor harmonies provide an easy entry into the world of improvisation and the ensemble writing gives everyone a chance to get in on the action. This one provides a wealth of teaching opportunities and will be a hit on any concert or festival program. (2:38)
EDB2502 .
Luck of the Draw
Doug Beach
From the opening notes to the final chord “Luck of the Draw” bristles with energy and excitement. The hard charging swing groove provides the perfect setting for the rhythmic melodic line. With plenty of ensemble work and an open solo section, this is the perfect opener on your next program. (3:07)
EDB2503
$50.00
Island Time
Brad Ciechomski
The bossa nova style is one of the most important grooves in jazz. Composer and educator Brad Ciechomski has penned a wonderful vehicle for introducing your students to this important style. Beautiful scoring and a solid melody make this chart a great choice for developing bands. With an abundance of great ensemble work and some nice solo space, this one will be a wonderful change of pace on any concert or festival program. (3:24)
Early Morning
Solo Feature for Alto Sax, Tenor Sax or Trumpet Doug Beach
Programming the right ballad is always a challenge. “Early Morning” by Doug Beach will make that decision a little easier. Written to feature your choice of Alto Sax, Trumpet or Tenor Sax, this beautiful ballad will be a memorable choice on any program. The pensive melody is supported by warmly scored backgrounds that build as the chart unfolds. The double time ensemble section provides a wonderful contrast to the ballad feel. (5:00)
TDB2502 .
The Pursuit of Funkiness
Michele Fernández
This intensely-energetic Funk chart is flavored with subtle Afro-Latin undertones and depicts a high-speed car chase complete with DopplerEffect saxes, high brass car honks and low brass engine revs. This chart is playable by 2 percussionists, and all rhythm section parts are completely notated. Students and audiences alike are sure to find this one to be truly exciting. (2:27)
TDB2503 .
Blues for Gum
Mike Tomaro
$55.00
More advanced groups have come to know that Mike Tomaro’s name on a piece means that the music is of the highest quality. Now musicians at the medium level can explore Mike’s talents as well. (4:18)
TDB2505
$55.00
Night Wing
Bret Zvacek
Looking for a great change of pace chart for your next performance? “Night Wing” from the pen of Bret Zvacek is the perfect choice. An infectious straight eighth note groove, great ensemble writing and plenty of space for solos all combine to create a chart that will be a favorite of both the band and the audience. Great writing! (4:15)
TDB2504
Dos Amigos
Theme and Variations
George Shutack
New from the pen of George Shutack comes the exciting new feature for two Trumpets. The flowing melodic line is set over a strong Spanish groove. (4:55)
JDB2501
Kirk Out
Tom Garling
Commissioned by the Elmhurst University Jazz Band, this exciting new Tom Garling composition is a must have chart for more advanced groups. Great ensemble writing over a quasi-Brazilian feel with a funky back beat guarantees that this will be a favorite of bands and audiences alike. The chart features Trumpet, Trombone, Baritone Sax and Guitar. The perfect chart for concert or festival! (6:08)
JDB2502
Strollin’ Down Funk Avenue
Mike Tomaro
More advanced groups have come to know that Mike Tomaro’s name on a piece means that the music is of the highest quality. “Strollin’ Down Funk Avenue” is no exception. This burning funk chart is a tour de force and lets everyone get in on the action. (8:39)
JDB2503
Sequential Warm-ups for Intermediate Jazz Ensemble
This unique set of 16 warm-up pieces are centered on the “building block” rhythmic and harmonic elements that are common to Jazz. All of the music in the set is designed to work at a variety of tempos with various dynamic shadings so you can tailor the warm-up to your specific needs. The rhythm section parts are carefully crafted to allow maximum flexibility for each player. The meticulous articulations in the wind parts will help students capture the essence of swing style.
The music Peter Blair creates for ensembles at all levels is engaging for the student and educationally sound. His compositions and arrangements appear on many state contest/festival lists and his music has been described as creative and dynamic.
Sequential Warm-Ups for Beginning Jazz Ensemble
by Peter Blair
This book covers the essential rhythmic and harmonic elements found in two styles of Jazz: “even eighth note” and Swing music. Each exercise builds on the previous example so young students are introduced to essential rhythms and phrases in a well-sequenced method. The rhythm section parts are crafted to allow maximum flexibility for each player. All the warm-ups work at a variety of tempos and with various dynamic shadings, so each one can be used in a multitude of ways.
LICK LIBRARY
JAZZ PATTERNS FOR BEGINNING IMPROVISERS
Lick Library is specifically written for the young musician who is just starting their journey into the world of Jazz and improvisation. This book includes over 250 examples that work their way sequentially through major, minor, and dominant chords, as well as accompaniment tracks at a variety of tempos for all of the licks.
Includes 180 recorded examples that are set up to be “echo exercises,” where the student can hear the lick played by a live musician, then play it themselves in real time with the rhythm section!
$14.99
PETER BLAIR
The music Peter Blair creates for ensembles at all levels, is engaging for the student and educationally sound. His compositions and arrangements appear on many state contest/festival lists and his music has been described as creative and dynamic.
