All Blues (arr. Michael Sweeney): Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts
As performed by Miles Davis / Arranged by Michael Sweeney
Grade: 2
Item: 35-PK00445525
$25.00
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Description
Masterful jazz standard from Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue" album, notated here in 3/4 for young players.
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00445525
More about this title
About the Artist: Miles Davis
Miles Davis shaped modern jazz across five decades, moving from bebop through cool jazz, modal exploration, and electric fusion. His 1959 album "Kind of Blue" remains one of the best-selling jazz records ever made, introducing modal improvisation to a wide audience and establishing the sound that defined an era.
For music educators, Davis represents the power of restraint and clarity. His playing rewards close listening and models how less can mean more. His compositions and interpretations give students a direct line to understanding how jazz standards became standards; they're built on melody and harmony that sing, not complexity for its own sake.
Why we love this
Michael Sweeney's arrangement respects the tune's elegant simplicity while making it genuinely playable for younger ensembles. The 3/4 meter keeps the blues form intact without overwhelming second-year players, and the voicing gives every section something meaningful to do. It's refreshing to teach a Miles Davis composition that doesn't require years of harmonic theory to understand.
What to expect
The tune carries the cool restraint of "Kind of Blue" but with the ensemble friendliness that Sweeney's arrangement brings. There's a relaxed confidence to playing this; students feel like they're handling something authentic without being buried in technical difficulty.
Who it's for
Young jazz ensembles at the intermediate level who are ready for real standards but still benefit from manageable ranges and straightforward voicing. This works for groups in their second or third year of playing together, whether in a school band setting or community jazz program.
How to get the most out of it
- Keep the tempo relaxed and breathing. This is blues, not a march; allow the ensemble to feel the space between phrases rather than rushing through bar lines.
- Balance the melody against the accompaniment. The tune should float over the rhythm section, not compete with it.
- Attend to dynamics with purpose. The standard dynamic range matters here because contrast is what gives the blues its emotional shape.
- Work section parts separately before combining. Younger players need clarity on how their individual lines fit into the whole before they can lock in together.
How to use it
Pair this with other Grade 2 jazz standards to build a short set or concert segment. It also serves well as a teaching piece in the early part of a season when young players are still building ensemble cohesion; its moderate demands leave mental space for focus on tone, balance, and phrasing.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and performing in 3/4 time
- Understanding blues form and harmonic movement
- Listening for and responding to ensemble balance
- Playing with swing feel and rhythmic placement
- Approaching jazz repertoire with stylistic awareness