Jazz Ensemble for Beginners

Shorty Rogers was one of the primary creators of West Coast jazz, both as a composer and performer. Popo is a great example of a cool blues in a medium tempo, with solo space for any player.

This super-easy chart is terrific with an easy swing tempo of 110 BPM and written solos for alto, tenor, and trumpet. Trumpet 1 range is to written C third space. This is a "fail-safe" chart!

Bring the holidays on in a Latin fashion with this medley of three Christmas classics. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen; O Christmas Tree and Jingle Bells are all arranged over a strong Bossa Nova groove....

Jazz up your holiday concerts with this swingin' medley for your younger ensemble. Includes 'Up on the Housetop,' 'Jolly Old St. Nicholas' and 'Jingle Bells.' Very Easy (2:12)

Jazz up your holiday concerts with this swingin' medley for your younger ensemble. Includes 'Up on the Housetop,' 'Jolly Old St. Nicholas' and 'Jingle Bells.' Very Easy (2:12)

Here is an easy to play funky-rock chart. The solo section is written for all winds for flexibility, 1st trumpet range is to written E top space and the arrangement has optional parts for two flutes,...

An upbeat New Orleans second-line groove for your young jazz band. Tempo is around 160 BPM, but it is very accessible. Written melodic solos for trumpet 1 (or section) and trombone 1 (or section) with...

This is a jewel at this level! A Gospel-tinged groove with straightforward harmony will make this chart a breeze to rehearse and perform. The rhythm section parts are well-written and very playable.

Composer/arranger Carl Strommen delivers this gospel style swing chart for the easy red series. Carl starts things off with an a cappella section for the winds, then brings in the rhythm section on th...

These Toys Swing arranged by Mike Story is a superb grade 1 chart based on 'March of the Toys.' Trumpet 1 range to written E top space, a written-out tenor sax 1 solo, and well-notated rhythm section...

Sauce on the Side is a fun chart for beginning jazz band and offers ample opportunities to feature soloists! Written in a "soul jazz" style that is mostly blues-based, this composition features a funk...

Sauce on the Side is a fun chart for beginning jazz band and offers ample opportunities to feature soloists! Written in a "soul jazz" style that is mostly blues-based, this composition features a funk...

Hey Dude? Yep, that's the title. It's a Latin rock chart with easy rhythm section parts, an easy I-IV-V blues chord progression and the high note for 1st trumpet is written D, fourth line. The practic...

It's 'A Little Bit Latin,' simple as that. Do you need an easy Latin chart? Well then, this stylistically accessible cha-cha-cha-flavored arrangement will work perfectly. No individual solos to worry...

Composer/arranger George Vincent puts the rock flavor with a little Latin spin on this easy chart. A very pretty melody, no solos, just nice ensemble all the way. Easy brass ranges with 1st trumpet ra...

An easy-to-play Latin bossa with everything written out for the rhythm section and no individual solos. The tempo is around 148 BPM with very accessible brass ranges and plenty of optional parts to in...

Here's a bossa that is just right for the young band. Played around 136 BPM, it has a catchy melody with great harmonies; easy brass ranges; and optional parts for flute, clarinet, and vibraphone.

The familiar Jamaican folk song in a Calypso groove is very accessible for young bands. No individual solos and easy trumpet 1 range to written D fourth line. Reduced instrumentation and flexible opti...

Finally an easy version of this classic! Played with a swing feel around 144 BPM with a written-out alto solo, trumpet 1 range to written F top line, this easy to play crowd pleaser will be a hit. It'...

Based on the classic version recorded by Clifford Brown, this chart opens with a frantic 'traffic jam' effect before settling into a more relaxed uptempo swing style. The melody is first stated by a c...

Recorded on the landmark album 'Kind of Blue', this Miles Davis blues standard is a perfect improvising tool for beginning players, and a great introduction to a legendary jazz figure.

This traditional swing tune from the '40s works great in this easy setting for beginning bands. The moderate swing tempo and easy rhythms provide a perfect model for teaching this style to inexperienc...

Arranger Mike Lewis took the swinging Glenn Miller hit and arranged it for the easy jazz ensemble player. Mike's clever reworking of the solo sections and the descending harmony line makes this chart...

This chart swings all the way and is very playable by a young band. Arranger Vince Gassi captures the essence of this well-known Strayhorn composition made famous by Ellington, and scored it exactly r...

This Gershwin classic has a refreshing sound, as the chorale intro slips into a slow swing feel reminiscent of the legendary Miles Davis/Gil Evans arrangement. Arranger Rich DeRosa brings a big sound...