Jazz at Lincoln Center: Essentially Ellington Sheet Music

David Berger's transcriptions and arrangements anchor this collection, drawing on his extensive work with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and his intimate knowledge of Ellington's catalog. Teachers return to Ellington's canonical works in these editions because they're vetted for accuracy and playability, with parts that hold up in rehearsal and performance.

Duke Ellington stands as the central figure in this collection with eight titles representing his most essential compositions for jazz ensemble. His music remains the standard by which ensemble writing is measured, and these editions give your students direct access to the vocabulary of swing, blues changes, and orchestral color that defines the idiom.

David Berger brings thirty years of scholarly authority to these scores. As conductor and arranger for the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra from its founding through 1994, Berger transcribed nearly 500 Ellington works from classic recordings, capturing not just the notes but the swing and character of the original performances. His arrangements in this collection are models of how to honor a composer's intent while creating parts that work for student ensembles.