Big Band
College/Pro
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You can listen to audio of each piece by clicking the 
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Afterthought
Composed by Scott Ninmer
This laid-back swing tune features the drums and the beauty of the flugelhorns and trombones in combination throughout the melody. The solo sections for the trombone and trumpet give them the chance to solo on contemporary changes in two different sections and moods of the tune. The shout chorus after the solos sections showcases the brilliance of the ensemble's sound and also features some nice work for the saxes.
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Price: $60.00
Buy NowBeneath the Veiled Moon
Composed by Scott Ninmer
Looking out on the night sky away from city lights, a beautiful orange-red moon could be seen through the clouds. This through-composed piece attempts to capture the beauty of that image. A trumpet soloist is featured on the lyrical melody and serene solo. The warm colors of the ensemble are also featured, creating a luscious background for the soloist.
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Buy NowBlue Peace
Composed by Scott Ninmer
"Blue Peace" was inspired by the compositional style of Maria Schneider, particularly her composition "Green Piece". This straight-eighth chart provides extensive modal solo space for the soprano saxophonist while featuring the ensemble using a large palette of contemporary colors.
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Buy NowBread, Apples, and Very Small Rocks
Composed by Scott Ninmer
"Bread, Apples, and Very Small Rocks" is one of my most "modern" and angular pieces. With lots of free improvisation, this number will give everyone a chance to solo. The pointillism at the beginning and end showcase the band's rhythmic abilities, and the ostinato heard throughout establishes a fun modern groove.
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Buy NowEleventh Hour Blues
Composed by Scott Ninmer
Written in the style of Neal Hefti's "Splanky" for the Basie Band, this blues features the piano,
alto sax, and trombone. The saxophone section is also featured in a soli, and there are plenty of
big moments for the entire band as well.
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Buy NowEventide
Composed by Scott Ninmer
"Eventide" features the trombone soloist in a number of styles, from relaxed medium swing to a funky, energetic hip-hop groove. In addition, the ensemble is featured in trading with the soloist and in some nice tutti sections.
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Buy NowFields of Green
Composed by Scott Ninmer
***Winner of the 2014 ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composer Awards***
"Fields of Green" makes large use of slash chord harmony in this happy tune. The pianist is given a large section to solo alone in the middle of the chart before the ensemble re-enters. The melody morphs and shifts throughout this second half of the chart, not resting until the final chord is sounded.
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Buy NowFigure It Out
Composed by Scott Ninmer
"Figure It Out" was composed in 2011 under commission by the New York Youth Symphony Jazz Band featuring Marcus Printup. In writing this piece for the New York Youth Symphony Jazz Band's "Basie and Beyond" concert, I strove to pay homage to the lineage of Basie writers, while still stepping a bit 'beyond' their developments. The opening section features a rubato piano intro (a different take on the standard 'Basie' intro) before the trumpet soloist enters. The piece provides ample solo space for the soloist, as well as fun tutti sections for the entire ensemble.
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Buy NowFireside
Composed by Scott Ninmer
"Fireside" is a feature for the band. It utilizes numerous instrument groupings, feature the ensemble's different timbral possibilities in this short but sweet "Vince Mendoza-esque" chart. A trumpet solo occurs about 75% of the way through before a large climax takes over.
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Buy NowA Fool's Hope
Composed by Scott Ninmer
"A Fool's Hope" refers to the piano player in this dramatic number. The central theme is the battle between the piano and the band for harmonic control! Framing this is a nice solo section for the tenor sax and a tunefull melody at the beginning and end.
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Buy NowFree Play
Composed by Scott Ninmer
"Free Play" was inspired by the eponymous Steven Nachmanovich book. This fast contemporary swing chart is not for the weak-hearted; a strong tenor saxophonist is a must. The majority of the piece relies on the soloist, who solos throughout the entire piece. After a large climax near the end of the piece, the woodwinds get to test their doubling abilities, while the muted colors in the brass end this driving piece on a quiet note.
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Buy NowGliding Through Darkness
Composed by Scott Ninmer
"Gliding Through Darkness" was written in 2014 for trombonist Jim Pugh. This relaxed 'ballad' features open, modal harmony, providing a nice platform for the soloist. Woodwind doubles are used throughout, giving the reed section a chance to showcase their abilities in adding orchestrational color to the piece.
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Buy NowHeuristics
Composed by Scott Ninmer
"Heuristics" was written in 2013 for my graduate recital at the Manhattan School of Music. The main concept of this piece is the juxtaposition between the angular, pointed first theme and the lyrical, melodic second theme. With several metric modulations and odd time signatures, this piece will keep the band engaged throughout.
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Buy NowH F L
Composed by Scott Ninmer
The title of this piece is an acronym for “higher, faster, louder”, a moniker that connotes the competitive, athletic attitude found in certain arenas of jazz such as jam sessions and a particular style of big band writing (e.g. the bands of Buddy Rich, Don Ellis, and Maynard Ferguson). Unfortunately, the concentration on these values often detriments the music aesthetically. Since I normally write more subtle, tuneful pieces, I tried to write a more aggressive piece while still keeping it tasteful!
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Buy NowHope Eternal
Composed by Scott Ninmer
"Hope Eternal" was written in 2013 for the Meetinghouse Jazz Orchestra for their
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Concert. This uplifting piece is given a patriotic flavor in the simplistic melody and its march-like rhythms. Three solos from the tenor sax, trombone, and trumpet enliven the piece with an energetic groove from the rhythm section. The brilliant sound of the full band brings the piece to a triumphant climax before the closing on a more somber tone.
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Buy NowIf I Only Had Seven Giant Brains
Composed by Glenn Wilson
Arranged by Scott Ninmer
***Winner of the 2011 Downbeat Magazine Undergraduate Jazz Arrangement Student Music Award***
This arrangement was commissioned by the composer, Glenn Wilson, in 2009. To create this composition, Glenn morphed the source song "If I Only Had a Brain" using two jazz classics, "Giant Steps" and "Seven Steps to Heaven" to create this piece. Because of the inherent humor found in the original song and Glenn's treatment of it, I sought to take the humor further with this arrangement. This rowdy arrangement makes extensive use of metric modulation and quotes from other songs found in the "Wizard of Oz".
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Buy NowLament for Bob
Composed by Scott Ninmer
"Lament for Bob" was composed in 2012 under commission by the United States Air Force Airmen of Note. This is a tribute to the recent passing of Bob Brookmeyer, one of my largest compositional influences. The piece begins with the trombone choral, to which the flugelhorns are added. The piece continues to gain momentum, leading into the flugelhorn solo. They are given ample space in the middle of the piece to solo on a backdrop woven by the rhythm section and horns. The piece comes to a large climax as the band morphs into a primal cry that slowy dies away to nothingness.
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Buy NowThe Last Straw
Composed by Scott Ninmer
One of the composer's most ambitious projects to date, "The Last Straw" moves through a wide variety of areas exploring the possibilities of the augmented scale. Ample solo space is given to both the soprano sax and flugelhorn in this double concerto of sorts. The bass trombone and bass also have fun opportunities to let loose in this piece.
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Lilt
Composed by Scott Ninmer
***Winner of the 2011 New York Youth Symphony First Music Jazz Competition***
"Lilt" was composed as a light-hearted reflection on the pastoral countryside of Ireland.
In this piece I have attempted to evoke the sounds of traditional Irish music.
The tenor saxophone and trumpet are featured on open modal solos that serve as a metaphor
for these charming expanses of land.
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Buy NowLooking Back
Composed by Scott Ninmer
***Winner of the 2011 ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composer Awards***
"Looking Back" is a dark, romantic medium waltz that offers a rewarding challenge to all players . Cross-sectional playing and a variety of ensemble timbres results in a colorful and highly enjoyable playing and listening experience.
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Maelstrom
Composed by Scott Ninmer
"Maelstrom" was commissioned and premiered by the New York Youth Symphony Jazz Band on March 16, 2015 at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York, NY. This piece depicts the fury of the maelstrom - a very powerful whirlpool - and the earnest of a ship caught in its wrath. After depicting calm ocean waves breaking, the piece escalates to a frenzy as the maelstrom builds strength and the battle between the ship and maelstrom ensues. The tempest gradually subsides, with the fate of the ship left unknown.
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Buy NowMTA
Composed by Scott Ninmer
"MTA" is a deconstruction of the renowned Strayhorn/Ellington classic, "Take the 'A' Train". Elements from this piece were used to construct something entirely new, in a much more modern vein. Intriguing solo sections are present for the trumpet and the bari in this fun number.
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Buy NowNight Suite
Composed by Scott Ninmer
NIGHT SUITE, a 25-minute suite for big band with trombone soloist, was commissioned by trombonist Jim Pugh in 2014, and was featured at the 2014 International Trombone Festival in Rochester, NY. It contains the following movements: I. Eventide, II. Gliding Through Darkness, III. Too Late, (audio and information of which can be found on this page under their own headings).
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Buy NowPong
Composed by Scott Ninmer
This happy-go-lucky tune pays homage to the eponymous Atari video game. The trombone and tenor play this game via the melody and have plenty of room to solo over rhythm changes. The saxes are featured on a bluesy soli a la Thad Jones, and the power of the brass is showcased throughout. This fun piece is sure to be exciting for both the band
and the audience!
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Buy Now¿Quién Sabe?
Composed by Scott Ninmer
"¿Quién Sabe?" (translated "Who Knows?") was written in 2012 for the Manhattan School of Music Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Bobby Sanabria. It uses two Brazilian rhythms, the baião and the samba, with jazz harmony and funky rhythms to create a melding of the two countries' musical styles. The alto sax and bari sax are are featured, with the alto soloing over the modal baião section and the bari on the more traditional samba. The band is also featured in several climactic moments.
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Buy NowThe Thing
Composed by Scott Ninmer
"The Thing" is a play off of the renowned standard "All the Things You Are". An interesting collusion of swing and funk styles, this harmonically "out" chart provides a new and refreshing angle on the well-worn chord changes. Along with several soloists, the band is featured on the tutti contrafact at the beginning, as well as a chorale at the end.
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Too Late
Composed by Scott Ninmer
"Too Late" was written in the spring of 2014 for the BMI Jazz Composers workshop. Using a modern palette of diatonic color in an open straight-eighth rhythmic feel, this piece features the piano and soprano sax. The band and the drums also are featured in trading later in the chart.
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Buy NowTrial Run
Composed by Scott Ninmer
***Winner of the 2011 United States Air Force Sammy Nestico Award
and the 2010 Jazz Education Network Student Composition Showcase***
"Trial Run" uses extensive non-functional harmony, drawing on the harmonic techniques of early 20th-century classical music. It also utilizes various mixed section groupings set against each other, emphasizing blend and tuning between the various sections of the ensemble. The funk/blues-based guitar solo affords the soloist a rare opportunity to use distortion, while the tenor solo presents a challenge to a soloist of any ability level.
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Buy NowWindsor Blue
Composed by Scott Ninmer
"Windsor Blue" is named after the fictional abstract expressionist painter Rabo Karabekian's
most famous work "Windsor Blue Number Seventeen" in the Kurt Vonnegut novel Bluebeard.
This piece focuses on development of material throughout. Featuring solos for trumpet and
trombone on rock and metal grooves, the woodwinds also get a workout on their doubles.
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Buy Now