"Storybook" -- composed and arranged by Mark Miller.
From the album "Storybook: the Music of Mark Miller" by the Birdland Big Band, released in 2025.

A mellow straight 8th medium tempo tone poem evoking an idyllic “once upon a time” fairytale scene. The bulk of the song is in 4/4 while the bridges and Alto ride-out solo are in 7/4 (written 4/4 - 3/3).

Features Flugel 3 & Alto 1.

Written for: -2 alto saxes, 2 tenor saxes, baritone sax -4 trumpets (with flugels) -4 trombones (3 tenors & 1 bass bone) -piano, bass, drums

Approximate length: 7 mins.
Difficulty level: Grade 5

Listen to the recording on YouTube: https://youtu.be/OAnGh-e3W_g?si=gXWz346jdbATeWBS

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Chorale and Alleluia -- Composed and arranged by Mark Miller From the album "Storybook: the Music of Mark Miller" by the Birdland Big Band, released 2025.

Originally inspired by the great McCoy Tyner, this song is the answer to the question: "What if a church choir, a drum corps and the John Coltrane Quartet had a baby?" It starts with a contemplative rubato and a brass chorale stating the themes. Then the pianist sets up a cut time groove a La McCoy Tyner. Bass and drums add in, then the horns reiterate the themes from the chorale. Solo sections are open vamps with very few chord changes. The ending is joyous and triumphant with saxes playing bebop lines over brass chords.

Features improv soloists: Tenor 1 & Piano

Written for: -2 alto saxes, 2 tenor saxes, baritone sax -4 trumpets -4 trombones (3 tenors & 1 bass bone) -guitar, piano, bass, drums

Approximate length: 7:30 mins. Difficulty level: Grade 4

Listen to the recording on YouTube: https://youtu.be/gAqFBaIo-cM?si=VwVkpoLw4rg0H22X

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“The Doubledown,” is a soulful, gospel-infused waltz with a simple trombone section melody. It showcases the band’s lower register: solos by baritone sax, trombone 3 (with optional plunger), bass, and trombone 1 on melody and outro solo. There is plenty of small group improvisation with minimal use of the full band, so it isn't a chop buster. The highest note of lead trumpet is an E above the staff (concert D), but this only happens once. Most of the song is technically easy in all parts. Also it may take a young drummer some work to get the feel correct -- part of the song is a Bernard "Pretty" Purdy shuffle, but as a waltz. The difficulty of the chart is that it's written in 9/8, so getting used to that might take some work for younger players, but it's good exercise for them. (just like 6/8, but with one more beat). It's a very straight ahead hard grooving 9/8 waltz... similar to Mr Bojangles, Kissed By A Rose, or the Saturday Night Live end credits theme.

IMPROV SOLO FEATURES: baritone sax, trombone 3 (with optional plunger), bass, and trombone 1 on melody and outro solo.

Written for: -2 alto saxes, 2 tenor saxes, baritone sax -4 trumpets -4 trombones (3 tenors & 1 bass bone) -piano, bass, drums

Approximate length: 7:30. Difficulty level: Grade 4

LISTEN HERE: https://youtu.be/CViEuv00s4A?si=hK20FXjLtuiktlVu

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"WTF" -- composed and arranged by Mark Miller.
RECORDED ON "Storybook: the Music of Mark Miller" by the Birdland Big Band - to be released Spring 2025

An uptempo Swing-Samba that is based on dissonant harmonies, yet is very melodic and palatable to any audience. Quirky and modern post-bop that features improv solos from Alto 2 and/or Tenor 2, and either Trombone 2 and/or Trumpet 3.

Written for: -2 alto saxes, 2 tenor saxes, baritone sax, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones (3 tenors & 1 bass bone) -piano, bass, drums

Approximate length: 8 mins.
Difficulty level: Grade 5.

Listen to the recording on YouTube: https://youtu.be/25r0ullwAo0?feature=shared

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“Your Smile" -- composed & arranged by Mark Miller.
RECORDED ON "The Birdland Big Band Live" in 2018

An uplifting gospel-pop song at a medium tempo that leaves the audience breathless. It features Trombone 2 (melody and improv solo), *Alto 1 (melody and improv solo), and Piano (or Guitar) playing an a cappella cadenza. The piece is in two large sections with the cadenza in between. The first section is in 4/4 (trombone) and the second is in 3/2 (sax solo).

*It is also available in a version that features Tenor 1 instead of Alto 1. Please let me know if you’d prefer that version & I’ll email it to you.

Written for: 2 alto saxes, 2 tenor saxes, baritone sax, 4 trumpets (with flugels in all parts), 4 trombones (3 tenors & 1 bass bone), piano, bass, drums

Approximate length: 8 minutes Difficulty level: 4

Listen to the recording on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/Zm2L8zYaAbA?feature=shared

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"Go" -- composed & arranged by Mark Miller.

RECORDED ON "The Birdland Big Band Live" in 2018

An edgy, up-tempo, hard-bop blues with an Art Blakey style Latin-swing beat. It features Alto 2, Trumpet 3 & Drums.

Written for: 2 alto saxes, 2 tenor saxes, baritone sax, 4 trumpets, 3 trombones (2 tenors & 1 bass bone), piano, bass, drums.

Approximate length: 9 minutes Difficulty level: 5

Listen to the recording on YouTube: https://youtu.be/fd6ZywmnjVM?feature=shared

PDF for INSTANT DOWNLOAD