Drop Somethin’ (5-Part Flex)

Description

Stempien & Turner

Drop Somethin’ is a blues rock chart based on a tune sung by Debbie’s toddler son many years ago as he was cleaning up his toys. The first four measures of the main melody are transcribed exactly from what he sang: “If you wanna drop somethin’ you should clean it by yourself. Do it! You can do it!” The chart introduces beginner jazz players to the standard blues progression in a straight-eighth setting, with the melody first presented as a call-and-response between the parts. The drums are featured with sticks on the rim during the first statement of the melody. Written solos are provided for Parts 1 and 2, with chord symbols included for students learning or preferring to improvise.

The SpectraFlex Jazz Series
Originally developed during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 to face the reality of socially distancing within our ensembles and to, therefore, create jazz ensemble literature that could be performed by a varied combination of instruments, the SpectraFlex Jazz Series has serendipitously filled a void in our catalog. This series for adaptable jazz ensemble features 5 parts plus drums across the pitch spectrum of a traditional ensemble. Each part is transposed for multiple instruments, allowing for a great deal of flexibility. Whether we are in a global crisis or normal times, there are ensembles around the world that do not have access to all of the instruments in traditional jazz ensemble music. This series is the perfect remedy. It is filled with pieces that have been adapted from existing works in our catalog as well as ones that were written specifically for the series by composers at the height of their craft.

Grade: 2