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Art's Groove

Level 4 (SATB or SAA with Rhythm Section)
This hard bop head chart was composed by jazz pianist Steve Allee as part of the score for the film “New York in the Fifties”. The original recording showcased a three-horn line of trumpet, tenor saxophone, and trombone along with a burning rhythm section trio! Anyone who really wants to capture the essence of the true feel of this piece would be advised to spend time with that original recording (provided here on this site, since the...

Bourbon Street Blues - Arr. Jennifer Barnes

Bourbon Street Blues - Level 3 (SATB or SAA with Rhythm Section)
This fun, wordless, minor blues composition was commissioned in 2019 by the Jazz Education Network to be an accessible vehicle for exploring bebop style and improvisation. The "friendly" chord progression invites improvisers of all levels to jump in and experiment, and the short form divides nicely for 4-bar trading. After solos, there's a brief ensemble soli section before a D.S. Moderate vocal ranges allow for many...

Give Me The Simple Life Arr. Jennifer Barnes

Give Me the Simple Life - Level 3 (SATB, SSAABB or SSAA with Rhythm Section)
A high-energy swinger with a positive message makes this arrangement a great candidate for an opening or closing piece for your ensemble! Melodic solos can be sung by one or two vocalists, and the improvisation section is extremely flexible, with VERY accessible (only one chord) harmonic language, inviting riff-style trading between as many soloists (vocal and/or instrumental) as you’d like. Moderate vocal...

I Got Rhythm Arr. Jennifer Barnes

I Got Rhythm - Level 3 (SATB with Rhythm Section)
This fresh, high-energy take on the Gershwin standard “I Got Rhythm” has a modern flavor, with interesting grooves and meter changes and other musically interesting elements in the rhythm section while keeping the vocal parts relatively accessible. The improvisation section uses a vamp on two chords, inviting less experienced improvisers to focus on asserting creative ideas with good, grooving time feel using simpler harmony. This...

I Got Rhythm Arr. Jennifer Barnes

I Got Rhythm - Level 3 (SATB with Rhythm Section)
This fresh, high-energy take on the Gershwin standard “I Got Rhythm” has a modern flavor, with interesting grooves and meter changes and other musically interesting elements in the rhythm section while keeping the vocal parts relatively accessible. The improvisation section uses a vamp on two chords, inviting less experienced improvisers to focus on asserting creative ideas with good, grooving time feel using simpler harmony. This...

My Romance Arr. Jennifer Barnes

My Romance - SATB A Cappella - Level 3
This a cappella ballad arrangement is a straightforward, classic vocal jazz treatment of the lovely Rodgers and Hart standard, just once through the form with a short and sweet eight-measure solo feature in the middle. The solid voice-leading and moderate vocal range in addition to the brevity of the piece guarantees that this will be a quick learn with lots of teaching opportunities for a cappella jazz ballad style for an intermediate (or above...
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