Audition Materials for the 2023 All-State Jazz Ensemble
WINDS
PART 1
Alto and Baritone Saxophones
1. SCALES - Play a Bb major scale from low Bb to high F and back to low Bb in eighth notes at
minimum quarter note tempo of 200. You can swing the scales or play them straight. Play the
same exercise on a B major scale (low B to high F# and back to low B) Scales.
2. REQUIRED PIECE - Play Donna Lee, found on page 48 of the Charlie Parker Omnibook (Eb Edition,
pub. Hal Leonard). Do not play it with the accompaniment CD.
Tenor Saxophones
1. SCALES - Play a Bb major scale from low Bb to high F and back to low Bb in eighth notes at
minimum quarter note tempo of 200. You can swing the scales or play them straight. Play the
same exercise on a B major scale (low B to high F# and back to low B) Scales.
2. REQUIRED PIECE- Play Stella By Starlight found on pages 6-8 of the Sonny Stitt - Improvised Tenor
Saxophone Solos (Transcribed and edited by Gary Keller), pub. Alfred Music.
Trumpets, Trombones and Bass Trombones
1. SCALES - Play a two octave concert Bb scale in eighth notes at a minimum of quarter note tempo
of 120. You can swing the scales or play them straight. Play a two octave concert B scale in
eighth notes at a minimum of quarter note tempo of 120
2. REQUIRED PIECED - Play the entire etude Bird’s Blues, found on page 42 in the book Jazz
Conception by Jim Snidero (pub. Advance). Do not play it with the accompaniment CD.
PART 2
Each applicant must submit at least one of the following three sections but is encouraged to submit two
or all three. A high performance level is foremost, but displaying a broader scope of one’s abilities will
give the judges a better representation of the total player.
A. IMPROVISATION – Improvise over You’re the Last One found on pages 22-23 in the book Effective
Etudes for Jazz by Mike Carubia and Jeff Jarvis (pub. Kendor), playing along with track 30 from
the accompaniment CD.
B. LEAD PLAYING – Play the 24-32 measure etude provided by PMEA – see Proposal) (Note that this
section is not available for tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone or bass trombone.)
C. SECTION PLAYING – Play the entire etude Sweet Georgia, found on pages 32-33 in the book
Effective Etudes for Jazz by Mike Carubia and Jeff Jarvis (pub. Kendor), playing along with track
35 from the accompaniment CD.
RHYTHM SECTION
Guitar, Piano and Vibraphone*
1. Play the entire etude Sweet Georgia, found on pages 32-33 (Guitar) or pages 54-57 (Piano) (vibes
play lead line only; piano lead line and comp) in the book Effective Etudes for Jazz by Mike
Carubia and Jeff Jarvis (pub. Kendor), playing along with track 32 from the accompaniment CD.
2. Comp two choruses of Fast Blues in Bb, found on page 12 in Aebersold, Vol. 2, playing along with
track 5 on the accompaniment CD.
3. Improvise over You’re the Last One, found on pages 22-23 (Guitar) or pages 38-41 (Piano) in the
book Effective Etudes for Jazz by Mike Carubia and Jeff Jarvis (pub. Kendor), playing along with
track 30 from the accompaniment CD.
*A vibraphonist may be added to the All-State Ensemble roster at the discretion of the director.
Bass
1. Play the entire etude Sweet Georgia, found on pages 32-33 in the book Effective Etudes for Jazz
by Jeff Jarvis (pub. Kendor), playing along with track 32 from the accompaniment CD.
2. “Walk” one 32 bar chorus, then improvise one 32 bar chorus over You’re the Last One, found on
pages 22-23 in the book Effective Etudes for Jazz by Mike Carubia and Jeff Jarvis (pub. Kendor),
playing along with track 30 from the accompaniment CD.
Drums
1. Play along with the track High Maintenance, found on pages 54-57 in the book Gordon
Goodwin’s Big Phat Band Play-Along Series (vol. 1, pub. Alfred). Use track 18 from the
accompaniment CD.
2. Play along with the following track from John Riley’s book, The Art of Bop Drumming. Catch all
written figures and provide appropriate comping throughout each example.
● Satch & Diz on page 68/track 44: 3/4 A sections with a 4/4 bridge. Use brushes for the head
and both choruses of the piano solo, switch to sticks for the remainder of the piece.
3. Provide an unedited recording of yourself performing the following styles:
● Salsa (Mambo): half note=110, 2:3 clave, play exactly 16 full measures, use idiomatic
comping/fills, play with sticks.
● Bossa Nova/Samba: quarter note=120, 4/4 time, play exactly 15 full measures of Bossa Nova
time, then play a one bar fill into 16 measures of double time Samba (half note=120). Use
idiomatic comping/fills and play with sticks and/or brushes.
