Jazz Ensemble Ballads

Here is a deeply emotional, gorgeous ballad from the self-titled album Lyle Mays. It begins with a written piano solo and moves into a lush ensemble setting. There is a short, improvised Tenor solo

Here is a beautiful, lush, straight-eighth ballad on the popular Cole Porter standard Easy to Love. This short and quite danceable chart exemplifies the Kenton band's warm and rich ensemble sound

Here's a wonderful update of Tommy Dorsey's classic theme song. It's totally playable by high school jazz bands, yet it also sounds great with college and professional groups. It's written as a trombone

Pat Metheny is known for his beautiful melodies, and Back in Time is no exception. Featuring a flugelhorn or trumpet soloist throughout on a written-out solo with chords included for improvisation,

As recorded by Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band on the CD That's How We Roll, but minus the woodwind doubles, saxes only. Arranged for flexibility, it's a beautiful solo feature for C instruments, alto sax,

Whitney Houston will always be remembered for this signature ballad. Here is a great-sounding arrangement that features a written solo for alto saxophone, tasteful ensemble accompaniment lines, and later a

Recorded in 1972, Chick Corea's Return to Forever album is recognized as one of the landmark albums of jazz fusion. Along with the jazz standard La Fiesta, the mesmerizing ballad introduced on this