Ain't Misbehavin': Guitar

Ralph Ford's arrangement opens this Waller standard to young ensembles without sacrificing the tune's fundamental swagger. The modest brass ranges and written-out solos for piano and tenor sax remove the pressure on advanced improvisers while keeping the natural swing intact, making this an ideal gateway to jazz repertoire for developing musicians.

Warm, approachable, and genuinely fun. The chart settles into a groove that feels both familiar and alive, with enough compositional personality to keep listeners engaged. There's an ease in Waller's melody that makes playing this feel less like work and more like hanging out with friends.

First-year and developing jazz ensembles working at the Grade 1 level, including high school jazz bands, middle school jazz groups, and community ensembles building confidence with standard repertoire. This chart welcomes pianists and tenor saxophonists ready for their first written solos without demanding advanced improvisation skills.

• Lock the rhythm section (piano and bass) into a relaxed, conversational swing feel before bringing in the horns; this foundation makes the entire chart feel effortless.
• Feature the tenor sax soloist prominently in the room during the written solo section; the audience needs to hear personality and clarity from that voice.
• Keep the tempo floating rather than rigid. Waller's music invites a slight push and pull that feels human, not metronomic.
• Let the brass punch the written figures with confidence but without aggression. These licks should land with joy, not force.

Program this early in a jazz concert to set a welcoming tone and build ensemble confidence, or pair it alongside other Broadway and standards-based charts to create a classic jazz retrospective. It also works beautifully as a closer on a lighter program where you want the audience to leave smiling.

• Reading lead sheets and reading parts from a score
• Playing swing rhythms and understanding triplet-based phrasing
• Balancing sectional textures in a jazz ensemble
• Accompanying soloists while maintaining ensemble sound
• Building tone control in the upper register of brass instruments