A Jazz Trio: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

Althouse brings genuine jazz vocabulary and swing sensibility to choral writing without sacrificing accessibility. The recorded accompaniment means your singers hear exactly how the jazz harmonies and rhythmic figures should sit, making this piece both a sophisticated listening experience and an achievable performance goal for developing choirs.

Sophisticated and swinging, with the elegance of jazz sophistication paired with the warmth of vocal ensemble singing. The piece captures the improvisational spirit of jazz while remaining grounded in the control and blend that choral music demands.

Choirs ranging from high school mixed groups to community and college ensembles looking to expand into jazz and contemporary idioms. This works particularly well for singers who have solid fundamentals in standard four-part harmony and are ready to explore rhythmic independence and modern harmonic language.

• Balance the jazz voicings carefully in rehearsal; use the recording to identify where individual parts should sit in the texture rather than doubling everything at concert pitch.
• Work the rhythmic syncopation separately from pitch at first. Mark beat subdivisions and isolate syncopated passages so singers understand where they land against the steady pulse.
• Encourage a lighter, more contemporary approach to diction and resonance than traditional choral repertoire requires. Jazz phrasing works best when the sound is forward and conversational.
• Reference the recorded accompaniment during sectionals so your singers internalize the jazz harmonic language and can respond naturally to the groove.

Program this as a standalone contemporary selection to break up a concert of traditional repertoire, or pair it with other jazz-influenced or secular modern works to create a focused set that showcases your choir's versatility. It also works well as an encore or a closer to a concert program.

• Jazz harmony and voice leading
• Syncopated rhythm reading and execution
• Rhythmic independence within an ensemble texture
• Interpretation of contemporary/jazz articulation and phrasing