Jazz Charts with Expanded Instrumentation

Here's a fresh take on one of the all-time standards of early jazz composed by Lillian Hardin Armstrong and Don Raye, and made famous by Louis Armstrong. It's an easy swinger with the wonderful melodic line

Much of the great music of the early Count Basie library was built on short musical ideas called riffs. Swing State provides young players with the opportunity to experience this style at the

Based on the chord changes to It Don't Mean a Thing by Duke Ellington, Swing Thing is the perfect chart to introduce beginning jazz groups to the swing style. The solo

For developing groups, this moderate swing chart by master composer Lennie Niehaus features exciting bebop lines with the melody stated at first by a duet of alto sax and trumpet, an open written

Designed for the youngest of jazz groups, this chart is based on the chord changes to Stella By Starlight. It's a swinging workout for young players while everyone gets a

Many of the famous Count Basie charts were built on riffs or short melodic ideas that were repeated several times over the blues progression. This swing original at the very easy level is the perfect

In this riff-based jazz standard, Michael Sweeney simplifies the figures just a touch to make it more playable by beginning groups, but authentic enough that it still really swings! Playable with optional

That's It is an accessible original utilizing a variety of rhythmic figures commonly used in good swing charts. The features include a nice stop-time section, interesting chord progressions

Tones for Doane is a nice original for developing bands set in a medium-slow swing style. Played at about 138 bpm, it provides great ensemble moments from all sections of the band. A medium slow

Here is the perfect combination of an infectious melody, great scoring, and many of the swing figures that are essential for young players to learn. The approachable blues changes in F concert make this a

This great jazz standard has been recorded by legendary performers for years! This smooth arrangement is set in a medium Basie swing style with lots of tutti ensemble playing. Great for teaching swing

This swingin' arrangement for beginning jazzers is based on the version by the character Wheezy featured in "Toy Story 2." The saxes enjoy most of the melody, but the brass get their chance too, along with

This is a medium-tempo swing chart in a bluesy setting. The bouncy melody requires students to focus on big-band-style jazz articulations in order to achieve the intended feel of playfulness. A brass soli