Blues and Swing Jazz Ensemble Charts

A hip and laid-back blues chart - this is fun, accessible, and can be applied to a variety of settings from a young ensemble's first performance to an easy read-down for a jazz combo at a community or

With limited ranges, beginning jazz rhythms, and lots of unison writing, this chart is at the perfect level for first-year jazz ensembles to learn to swing the blues in the comfortable key of F.

This medium bright blues swing features a written piano solo off the top. Everyone gets a turn at the melody as the chart develops, and there is some fun interplay between the saxes and brass after the solo

Here is a great blues chart at a laid-back medium tempo that is perfect for a developing ensemble. Keeping an eye on ranges and phrases, this tune fits well for developing groups and gives the trombones

Everyone is a winner with this medium blues! It's got everything you look for in an easy swing chart: straight-ahead rhythms with clear articulations, bluesy melodic lines, well-written solos with

This swinging chart is a great introduction to the blues, filled with ensemble passages that work beautifully. A fundamental element of this tune is the use of call and response. There are some fabulous

This original chart is a hip tune that is perfect for teaching swing and introducing the blues. Features written solos for trumpet, alto sax, and drums. Perfect for a young jazz ensemble.

A great opportunity to get your young players to swing, and swing they will! This super-achievable 12-bar blues chart has it all, including a tune that's as catchy as its title, an open solo section

This easy blues chart commissioned by Dusty Johnson and the Tipton Iowa Middle School jazz Band, is accessible to young groups and will be great to put together. It's a medium swing that is written with

As pleasant as a casual stroll down the avenue, this one is sure to get the feet tapping. An opening bass riff introduces a groove that gives this piece a real "Killer Joe" feeling. The melodies are great

This minor blues chart swings right out of the opening count off. There is well-written counterpoint and a roaring shout chorus which is ideal for showcasing the entire ensemble. This is a very playable

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

Victor Lopez gives this early jazz standard a contemporary flair for the youngest jazz bands! Beginning with a Latin/Bomba introduction, it quickly transitions to the familiar swinging, bluesy feel at about

This laid-back, easy-going swing chart at the very easy level is a perfect introduction to the blues for aspiring jazz musicians! Bluesy melodies and swinging rhythms will teach basic style in a way that is

This easy New Orleans swing chart was one of the early jazz standards. Written for young jazz band success at around 105 bpm, this chart features extremely playable rhythms, ranges and rhythm section parts.

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

Jazz bands are always stressed for rehearsal time, and this swinging chart helps players develop their solo chops and ensemble skills at the same time. It features an easy blues that uses the blues scale

Have you got the Fake News Blues? This chart is the cure! It's a medium-tempo shuffle chart for young ensembles that features the full ensemble along with written or improvised solos for the

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. Midnight Express is a medium swinger and features

Riff-based blues tunes are always valuable when teaching young players to improvise, and here is one of the best! Arranged here for inexperienced players, this Sonny Rollins classic features a swing style

Based on the blues in F and featuring a catchy riff traded around the ensemble, here is the perfect swing chart for beginning jazzers! Rick Stitzel carefully uses tutti rhythms for ease in learning, and the

Finally, a test that students will look forward to taking! This straight-ahead swinger is ideal for teaching swing rhythm interpretation and improvising on a blues scale. Equally suited to any program,

The minor blues is an essential song form in the jazz language, and Doctor Minor's Blues provides a perfect vehicle to introduce this form to young players. The features include a strong melody,

Reunion Blues is the title track from the famous 1971 album featuring Milt Jackson and Oscar Peterson, but over the years it has been recorded by countless jazz artists. Set in a moderate