All of Me: Choral SoundPax

Jay Althouse's arrangement captures the swagger of the original without overwhelming your singers or requiring extensive musical theater experience. The scat sections and two solos provide clear focal points for strong singers while keeping harmonic demands accessible, and the option to add alto sax and vibes transforms this into a genuinely stylish jazz performance that feels earned, not forced.

Smooth, confident, and genuinely fun to sing. The piece swings with the ease of a seasoned ensemble, even when you're rehearsing it for the first time. There's a conversational quality to the melody and a warm sophistication to the harmonies that makes singers feel like they're performing genuine jazz, not a simplified imitation.

Directors seeking an arrangement that feels authentic to jazz idiom while remaining within reach of singers ages 14 and up. This works equally well for beginning jazz choirs discovering the style for the first time and for intermediate groups wanting a confident, period-appropriate showpiece.

• Shape the scat sections with rhythmic precision; the energy comes from tight ensemble unison and clean articulation rather than vocal gymnastics. Treat these moments like a section of the rhythm section, not a showcase for individual singers.
• Assign your two soloists early in rehearsal and give them space to find their interpretation. The arrangement is written simply enough that they can add personality without compromising the ensemble sound.
• If adding the optional rhythm section and alto sax, bring them into rehearsals by the midpoint so the choir locks into the groove. The vibes and saxophone colors elevate the piece considerably, but the choir must feel confident singing without them first.
• Balance the jazz harmonies by thinking vertically in each chord; avoid letting any one voice dominate the blend. The tightness comes from singers listening across the voicing, not from classical straight-tone production.

Program this as the centerpiece of a jazz or pops concert alongside other standards from the 1930s-1940s, or place it strategically in a mixed concert to give audiences a stylistic palate cleanser. The arrangement's 18 pages and accessible difficulty make it ideal for mid-season performance when your singers have enough ensemble security to handle the jazz idiom confidently.

• Jazz phrasing and swing articulation in a choral setting
• Reading and singing jazz harmonies with proper blend and intonation
• Scat singing technique and rhythmic precision in ensemble sections
• Coordinating with optional instrumental ensemble members (rhythm section and saxophone)