Ensemble

As recorded by the Stan Kenton Orchestra and Jean Turner

The Kenton Band had many hits over the years, and a couple of them involved the whole band singing. This was one of those charts. Now, if your band isn't into singing (maybe they should be), then this...

Stan had a very definite style of arranging which, of course, was the basis of most of the music for his early bands. This chart is very simple but extremely effective. It begins with quiet trombones...

This great Kenton classic, as recorded on the album Live from Redlands University, is a swinging, happy chart which allows for lots of blowing space and is combined with great ensemble sections. This...

A great alto saxophone feature. From the incomparable Contemporary Concepts album (1955). It begins with a soft, lovely statement of the melody and ends that way, with a roaring up-tempo middle sectio...

One of the things Johnny Richards did best was write gorgeous melodies (many just think of him as bombastic and obsessed with odd-meter things). This is one of those melodies, as recorded on the Back...

This is a beautiful ballad, exactly as recorded on the Rendezvous with Kenton album. It features solos for alto and tenor saxophones. This is a gorgeous theme in a lovely setting. 5-5-5-3

This is another one of those charts which did not get commercially (or legally) recorded by the band. Hank wrote it in the later years. It features the lush 5-way trombone sound for which the band was...

It is hard to explain the characteristic of this arrangement except to say that, even though Graettinger writes some very adventurous and futuristic textures and lines, you always know where and what...

An absolutely gorgeous Bobby Troup ballad which features trumpet and tenor sax. Beautiful use of the warm sax and trombone sounds so typical of Kenton. As recorded on the Standards in Silhouette CD. 5...

Graettinger arranged this standard in his most unusual way, using dissonance offset with the beauty of this gorgeous melody. It is a trombone solo pretty much throughout the entire ballad. Great writi...

This was recorded by the Stan Kenton Orchestra on Adventures in Jazz. The solo may be played with any one of various instruments, or this could be used as a vocal chart. It was originally played by Ra...

As recorded by the Stan Kenton Orchestra on Sketches on Standards, this is a superb alto saxophone ballad feature, as arranged by Russo for Lee Konitz. Russo employs a dark, brooding, beautiful settin...

Astor Piazzolla's music lends itself well to the big band idiom, and Fred Sturm is a masterful arranger for big band. As recorded on 'Libertango ! Hommage to Astor Piazzolla' (HR Big Band), this chart...

Bill Potts' arrangements for the recording The Jazz Soul of Porgy and Bess are legendary. This medley is one of those charts, and it includes 5 different themes from Gershwin's masterpiece. There is s...

As recorded on Tonight Show Band, Vol. 2 (Amherst), this wonderful arrangement by the late, great Tommy Newsom features trumpet throughout. There is marvelous ensemble writing, set in a swingy ballad...

Piazzolla wrote many beautiful melodies, and this one is perhaps the most haunting.  This version is a step higher than the "non-Pro" version. It is a flugelhorn solo throughout, with very reasonable...

Feature your trombone soloist in this expressive arrangement of this outstanding melody. This one will bring big rewards for both players and listeners.

Feature your trombone soloist in this expressive arrangement of this outstanding melody. This one will bring big rewards for both players and listeners.

Feature your trombone soloist in this expressive arrangement of this outstanding melody. This one will bring big rewards for both players and listeners.

This impressive composition showcases your alto soloist. The underlying feel is a stunning and sophisticated ballad, but along the way there's a double-time jazz waltz and an engaging Latin-rock secti...

Commissioned by the North American Saxophone Alliance, The Prize is an incredible showcase for either tenor or alto sax. A hot contemporary ballad, intense latin/samba and straight-ahead jazz are all...

This fine rock ballad is a perfect showcase for your alto soloist.

Your tenor soloist gets the spotlight in this gorgeous, contemporary ballad. Very impressive both in competition and concert!

A bossa-ballad which spotlights your alto soloist.