All of Me: SATB Choral Octavo

Jay Althouse has distilled all the charm of this jazz standard into an arrangement that works for real choirs, not just professional singers. The tight harmonies and scat sections feel authentic without requiring virtuosic soloists, and the optional instrumental additions (alto sax, vibes, rhythm section) give you flexibility to scale up from a cappella rehearsal to a full performance.

Sophisticated and playful at once. The arrangement captures the wistful melody of the original while the scat and jazz voicings bring energy and humor, creating a performance that feels both intimate (the solo moments) and celebratory (the ensemble swings).

Any SATB choir looking to expand beyond traditional classical rep into the jazz and popular idiom. This works for high school and college groups, community choirs, and church ensembles comfortable with secular material and a swing feel.

• Nail the scat sections by treating syllables like articulation on instruments: "skee-bee" lands cleanly on the beat, never rushed or mumbly.
• Lock the rhythm section tight before adding choir; a solid drummer and bass player anchor everything else.
• Let the two solos breathe and hang back slightly on the ensemble parts around them so the featured voices cut through.
• Use the recorded accompaniment during early rehearsals to establish groove and intonation, then wean off it by performance week.

Pair this with other American standards or contemporary pop arrangements in a concert themed around song traditions or decades of American music. It works equally well as a spring concert opener that sets a lighter tone or as the anchor piece in a cabaret-style program where the audience expects wit and musicianship.

• Swing rhythm and jazz phrasing
• Scat singing and rhythmic articulation
• Jazz harmony voicing and voice leading
• Ensemble blend in a non-classical idiom
• Responding to soloists and responding dynamically in ensemble sections
• Sight-reading rhythmically active popular arrangements