All of Me: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

Jay Althouse's arrangement captures the swagger and sophistication of 1930s jazz without overwhelming young singers. The scat sections feel playful rather than demanding, the solos are genuinely singable, and adding a rhythm section plus alto sax and vibes transforms a familiar pop standard into a jazz band experience that lets your ensemble feel like professionals.

Intimate and swinging. The melody breathes with the conversational ease of a standard, and Althouse's harmonies sit you in a smoky room rather than on a concert hall stage. There's genuine joy in the scat sections and real vulnerability in the solos, making this feel less like a "pop choral number" and more like an actual song.

Mixed choirs and treble ensembles with singers who can handle simple jazz vocabulary and enjoy performing with live instruments. This works equally well for high school choirs looking to stretch into jazz and community or college groups seeking something that lets non-classical singers shine.

• Balance the scat sections so they lock with the rhythm section rather than pulling against it; even simple scat needs a drummer's pocket to feel right.
• Cast your soloists with voices that have warmth in the upper middle range, where this melody lives most comfortably.
• Use the recorded accompaniment as a rehearsal tool early on, then gradually shift to live rhythm section to build ensemble interdependence.
• Lean into the swing feel in the harmonies; straight eighth notes will flatten the arrangement's character.

Position this as a concert highlight that signals your choir's range and comfort with styles beyond classical and contemporary sacred work. It pairs beautifully on a program with other American standards or as a bridge between a formal first half and a more relaxed closing set.

• Singing swing feel and jazz articulation
• Reading and performing scat syllables with rhythmic accuracy
• Blending tight jazz harmonies in a chord progression
• Responding to and staying with a live rhythm section
• Building vocal confidence as featured soloists