And All That Jazz (from Chicago) (arr. Wendy Sergeant): SATB Choral Octavo

Wendy Sergeant's arrangement captures the sultry, syncopated character of the original without requiring pit orchestra resources, making this accessible for concert choirs at all levels. The SATB voicing opens the piece to mixed ensembles while preserving the style and swagger that made Chicago iconic. Directors find this useful for programming jazz standards alongside classical repertoire, or for introducing students to Broadway's compositional sophistication.

Smoky, confident, and urbane. The piece channels the defiant energy of Roxie Hart without requiring her to be on stage, letting your singers inhabit a character through music alone. There's a conspiratorial quality in the ensemble moments that invites the audience into a world of risk and glamour.

Choirs ready to explore Broadway beyond traditional show tune arrangements, from high school mixed ensembles to adult community choirs. This works for directors building a program that stretches stylistic boundaries or preparing singers for audition material with genuine theatrical substance.

• Nail the rhythmic precision in the opening ensemble figures. These syncopated lines define the groove, so spend time locking the attack and release across all four parts.
• Treat the vocal line like a jazz soloist: shape phrases with flexibility and attitude rather than metronomic exactness. The accompaniment can breathe with you.
• Balance the parts so the harmony doesn't cloud the main melodic idea. Alto and tenor lines support rather than compete.
• Let the style inform your diction. Clear consonants and connected vowels will capture that speakeasy sophistication the song demands.

Pair this with other jazz-inflected choral works to build a thematic concert block, or use it as a standalone statement piece that demonstrates your ensemble's stylistic range. It's equally effective as a finale or as part of a lighter second half that showcases your singers' personality and musicality.

• Jazz swing rhythms and syncopation
• Ensemble precision in complex rhythmic lines
• Character interpretation and stylistic authenticity
• Balancing solo and ensemble textures in four-part writing
• Flexible phrasing within a groove-based accompaniment