Belwin Jazz Ensemble Sheet Music

Herbie Hancock's Chameleon, Watermelon Man, and Cantaloupe Island are the backbone of this collection; teachers choose them repeatedly for their balance of musical substance and playability at grade 2. The Chicken by Kris Berg and You Better Sleigh! by JaRod Hall give you strong stepping stones into grade 3 material. Vehicle by James M. Peterik rounds out the funk and rock side of what's popular here.

Gordon Goodwin began composing full orchestrations at five years old and had written his first big band chart by thirteen. His work in television and film earned him three Emmy nominations, and his arranging sensibility carries into pieces like Wise Up, where his gift for structure shows up in every section.

Dave Wolpe has been composing and arranging since 1965, with decades of work for the Glenn Miller Orchestra and co-arranging credits on the platinum recording In the Christmas Mood. His experience across major swing orchestras informs arrangements like At Last, which layers vocal and ensemble parts with the fluency of someone who knows exactly how sections fit together.

Kris Berg directs jazz studies at Collin County Community College in Texas and founded the Collin Jazz Fest and Texas All-Star Jazz Camp. His charts, including The Chicken, have circulated widely enough that ensembles around the world perform and record them regularly.