A Tribute to Artie Shaw: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score

Jeff Hest's transcriptions capture the elegant swing and improvisational character of Artie Shaw's recordings while keeping the clarinet solos within reach of strong section players. The three-tune sequence works as a cohesive program, moving from the rhythmic drive of "Begin the Beguine" through the lyrical beauty of "Softly as in a Morning Sunrise" to the sophisticated changes of "What Is This Thing Called Love." This is jazz ensemble writing that honors the originals without asking more than a Grade 4 ensemble can deliver.

Sophisticated and swinging, with the elegance of pre-bebop jazz. The clarinet carries memorable melodies over propulsive rhythm section grooves and tasteful horn writing that creates space rather than clutter. These are standards that feel both timeless and alive.

Jazz ensembles working at the medium-advanced level who want to program recognizable standards with real harmonic substance. Directors building a repertoire that teaches students to listen to and learn from great jazz recordings will find these transcriptions valuable; they anchor students in the listening that should undergird jazz study.

• Balance the clarinet solo line so it sits naturally over the ensemble without overwhelming; these Shaw transcriptions rely on conversational interplay rather than frontal solo projection.
• Establish the swing feel early in rehearsal by locking the rhythm section into a relaxed, behind-the-beat pocket; the groove matters more than metronomic precision.
• Attend to the dynamics marked in the arrangement. Porter's melodies often sit in the middle-to-high dynamic range, and contrast becomes crucial when the band pulls back to support the clarinet's tender passages.

Program all three tunes in sequence to create a concert segment that showcases the ensemble's ability to navigate different moods and tempos within a cohesive aesthetic. The variety also works well in a standards-focused concert or a program celebrating American songwriting and jazz tradition.

• Reading and performing swing rhythm figures with authentic feel and phrasing
• Balancing solo and ensemble voices in a small-group jazz context
• Interpreting chord changes and harmonic movement in standards
• Listening to and learning from recorded jazz performances as a learning strategy
• Dynamic control and articulation in response to arranged dynamics and text