Unsquare Blues | 5 horns and rhythm | Redtenbacher's Funkestra

A 'fun play' odd-metre shuffle from Redtenbacher’s Funkestra’s 2013 album The Cooker, written and arranged by Austrian trumpeter Christoph Wundrak.

“Unsquare Blues” is an arrangement for a five-piece horn section—2 trumpets, tenor saxophone, trombone and baritone saxophone—alongside guitar, Hammond organ, bass and drums. At 132 BPM, it features a quasi half-time shuffle with odd meters, moving between 9/4 and 6/4 sections without losing its blues-rooted momentum.

This is a characterful, performance-led chart rather than an academic odd-time exercise: strong horn writing, a substantial rhythm-section role and a groove that rewards a band prepared to commit to its feel. It suits advanced school, university, semi-professional and professional funk, jazz-funk and horn-led rhythm-section groups looking for an unusual but accessible concert feature.

The chart has a personal history. “Unsquare Blues” was originally played by the Austrian band The Booze Family (1986-1992), which included both Christoph Wundrak and Stefan Redtenbacher. Its appearance on The Cooker was therefore a natural continuation of that earlier musical connection.

Instrumentation

• Trumpet 1

• Trumpet 2

• Tenor Saxophone

• Trombone

• Baritone Saxophone

• Guitar

• Hammond Organ

• Bass

• Drums

For flexible personnel, the PDF also includes Alto Saxophone 1 and Alto Saxophone 2 alternatives, replacing Trumpets 1 and 2 where required.

PDF includes full score and parts — 63 pages.