Ozark Aire

Commissioned by the Jazz Division of the Southwest Missouri Music Educator’s Association for their All-District Jazz Band, this chart is a sure-fire opener for any program! Beginning with a plaintive and pastel-like choral first in the piano then the horns, the theme merges into an intense ostinato in the rhythm section that sets up the treatment of the opening theme as an AABA song form with alternating grooves.

The solo section is open for multiple soloists with everyone having changes in their parts as well as backgrounds. After the solos there are formidable and challenging solis for each section culminating in a written tour de force for the rhythm section. After a climactic shout chorus the original theme returns and winds down to a beautiful ending. The highest note for lead trumpet is a concert C above the staff, Standard alto-tenor-barisaxophone section no doubles.