All Jazz

Teachers consistently return to Jerry Coker's Patterns for Jazz for serious improvisation foundation work, and Herbie Hancock's Chameleon and Watermelon Man for ensemble pieces that engage students without requiring advanced reading skills. David Baker's How to Play Bebop volumes remain popular choices for structured instrumental study, while Dan Haerle's theory texts anchor curriculum for students ready to understand jazz language at a deeper level.

Recent additions include El Ritmo del Malecón by Jamie Roth, Plenty of Nothing by Monika Herzig, and Ryan Fraley's Show Your Work, all released in May 2026 as conductor scores with downloadable parts.

Gordon Goodwin began composing entire pieces by ear at age five and wrote his first big band chart at thirteen. His gift for orchestration brought him into television and film, where his work has earned him three Emmy nominations. His catalog here includes Wise Up and 260 other titles that showcase his instinct for both commercial appeal and musical substance.

Dave Wolpe has been arranging since 1965, contributing to major orchestras including the Glenn Miller Orchestra and those of Ray Anthony and Lawrence Welk. He co-arranged the platinum CD In the Christmas Mood and brings that same polish and swing sensibility to his jazz ensemble work.

Victor López is among the most prolific contributors here with 295 titles, including the widely adopted Chameleon, which demonstrates his ability to write accessible charts that sound sophisticated and engage both young and experienced ensembles.