Ballads for Jazz Ensemble

Here is a chance to dazzle your audiences and show off the Trumpet Section, without a lot of hassle. This is a wonderful section-feature for Trumpets in a ballad style. Fred has written a beautiful me...

As originally recorded by Count Basie on the Roulette LP (Vogue CD) Kansas City Suite - the Music of Benny Carter, this is a beautiful ballad, written to feature trombone throughout. The middle sectio...

Fred wrote this version first, before creating the shorter, easier version. This also features alto saxophone throughout, but it has a long, double-time section in which the soloist can really stretch...

There may not be a more beautiful ballad anywhere in jazz ensemble literature. This is an alto saxophone feature throughout and was recorded on the Full Nelson album and also included in the Verve Jaz...

This chart is recorded by Oliver Nelson on the recording titled Black, Brown and Beautiful. (RCA Bluebird CD) Johnny Hodges was the guest soloist on this absolutely gorgeous alto saxophone feature. A...

As recorded on the brilliant recording A Dream Deferred (Flying Dutchman CYL2-1449), by the Oliver Nelson Orchestra. Quite possibly the most heart-rending, beautiful melody Nelson ever wrote. It featu...

This absolutely beautiful arrangement by Willie Maiden features a trombone and tenor sax solo, along with the primary solo by (guess who) the trumpet player a la Maynard. There are two solo trumpet pa...

One of Maynard's most beautiful ballads from the Dream Band period. Created by a young Benny Golson. The highest trumpet solo note is a written B. This chart is quite easy to play and makes a wonderfu...

The Stan Kenton Orchestra was always an ideal showcase for the outstanding soloists within its ranks. This piece was written to feature Conte Candoli on trumpet. Absolutely the best! A trumpet feature...

Bill Mathieu's arrangements, done for the Stan Kenton Orchestra were some of the most beautiful pieces ever recorded by that band. This is a splendid rendition of a great standard. It contains all of...

This is another of the many wonderful charts arranged by Lennie Niehaus for the Stan Kenton Orchestra. Features the lush Kenton trombone sound and gorgeous full ensembles. As recorded on the Sophistic...

This is a rich, warm chart as arranged by Stan. It features the lush Kenton trombone sound and gorgeous full ensembles. Stan used this as an opener for years. As recorded on the Romantic Approach LP....

One of the loveliest ballads ever recorded by the Kenton Band. Recorded on the Stan Kenton Plays Chicago CD. This is one of 2 original pieces by Bob Curnow from this album. This Kenton arrangement is...

This is another of the many wonderful charts arranged by Niehaus for the Stan Kenton Orchestra. A more beautiful ballad has not been written, and this one features a trombone and a tenor sax solo. As...

Arranged by Holman for Carl Fontana with the Stan Kenton Orchestra in the mid 50's. This chart is wonderful in its simplicity and melodic content. A striking melody and an exquisite arrangement. Solo...

As recorded by the Stan Kenton Orchestra on Stage Door Swings, this is a lovely ballad scored in the incomparable Kenton style. Niehaus uses the saxophone section to great effect. Limited ranges make...

This is the bass trombone solo, as recorded (The Kenton Era) by George Roberts with the Stan Kenton Orchestra. Folks have been waiting for this one for a long time. Johnny Richards sets this wonderful...

As recorded on 'Standards in Silhouette'

One of those mystery charts that hardly anyone knows about, this chart is a beauty. Mulligan was a master at creating moods and using wonderful chord substitutions, as he did in this medium ballad. Th...

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...