All Star (arr. Paul Murtha): Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

Paul Murtha's arrangement captures the song's infectious charm without overwhelming young players. The melodic pass-around keeps every section engaged, and the optional whistling moments add personality and lightness that makes rehearsals fun while building unison listening skills.

Bright, optimistic, and impossible to play without a smile creeping across your face. The arrangement bubbles with the same good-natured confidence that made the original a hit, mixing straightforward pop sensibility with genuine jazz ensemble textures that feel both contemporary and accessible.

Grade 2 jazz ensembles looking for repertoire that connects with students while staying musically honest. Directors want material their players actually recognize, and this delivers exactly that without compromising on arranging craft or educational value.

• Keep the energy steady and rhythmically grounded in the rhythm section. This arrangement depends on crisp ensemble timing rather than rubato, so your bassist and drummer should lock in first.
• Balance the solo section carefully. Since any combination of alto sax, trumpet, or trombone can take solos, rehearse the transitions between soloists beforehand to avoid dead air or confusion about who plays when.
• Emphasize the melodic exchanges between sections with clear phrasing rather than just hitting notes. When the melody passes from trumpets to trombones to saxes, shape each phrase so listeners hear the story continue.
• The whistling part works best when it sounds spontaneous and fun. Resist over-rehearsing it into perfection; a slightly rough, genuine quality keeps the moment charming.

This works beautifully as a concert opener or closer, setting an upbeat tone that the audience recognizes immediately. It also pairs well in a pop or film music themed concert, or as a palate cleanser between heavier classical or jazz standard selections that require deeper listening concentration.

• Passing melodic material between sections with awareness of phrasing and continuity
• Balance and blend when multiple sections play simultaneously
• Solo improvisation over a harmonic framework (for designated soloists)
• Listening to rhythmic lock between rhythm section and ensemble
• Stylistic interpretation of contemporary pop within a jazz ensemble context