Jazz Ensemble Best Sellers

Teachers keep coming back to Herbie Hancock's trio of Chameleon, Watermelon Man, and Cantaloupe Island for their combination of recognizable melodies, solid groove foundation, and Medium Easy accessibility. Victor López's Sing, Sing, Sing lands as another staple, and James M. Peterik's Vehicle offers a rock-funk alternative that resonates with students. At Grade 3, The Chicken by Alfred James Ellis bridges the playful and the demanding.

Gordon Goodwin wrote his first big band chart at 13 and has been composing full compositions in his head since he was five. His television and film work brought him three Emmy nominations, and his jazz writing carries that same precision. Wise Up shows his approach to ensemble writing.

Alan Baylock directs the Grammy-nominated One O'Clock Lab Band at the University of North Texas and spent two decades as Chief Arranger for the U.S. Air Force Band's Airmen of Note. His background in large ensemble arranging at the highest levels shapes how he voices jazz charts for clarity and impact. Things Ain't What They Used to Be reflects that institutional knowledge.

Dave Wolpe has been arranging since 1965, with extensive credits for the Glenn Miller Orchestra and contributions to platinum recordings. His experience scoring for major swing and jazz orchestras gives his work a sense of where voices should sit and how sections move.