Best of Belwin Jazz: Jazz Band Collection for Jazz Ensemble: 1st Alto Saxophone Book

Stepping into the world of classic big band jazz through contemporary educational arrangements. These charts pulse with swing and drive on uptempo numbers, settle into lyrical reflection on ballads, and offer enough stylistic color across all ten pieces to keep rehearsals fresh and students engaged.

Jazz ensemble directors looking for reliable medium-level repertoire that combines well-known standards with professional-quality arranging. 1st alto players in high school jazz bands and serious middle school jazz programs will find parts that are challenging without being unachievable.

• Balance your alto sax sound with the trumpet section on swing tunes like 'Jumpin' at the Woodside'. Listen across the ensemble rather than just your own chair to lock into the ensemble's pocket.
• On ballads such as 'My Foolish Heart', treat every phrase as if you're singing it. Shape the line with dynamic nuance that doesn't always follow the written markings.
• Work up the jazz articulation for these charts by listening closely to the recordings in the conductor book. The attack and release matter more than strict rhythmic precision.
• Pay attention to any soli or featured moments in your book. These passages require careful balance and clear tone production to sit right in the mix.

Build a concert around three or four selections from this collection, mixing tempos and styles to showcase range. You can also use individual titles throughout the year as reading material or as feature pieces alongside your primary jazz curriculum.

• Swing eighth-note articulation and phrasing in big band context
• Reading jazz chord changes and understanding their function in ensemble
• Balancing tone and dynamics within a five-part saxophone section
• Interpreting jazz notation conventions (accents, ghost notes, syncopation)
• Responding to stylistic shifts from straight swing to jazz-rock grooves within a single rehearsal