Best of Belwin Jazz: Young Jazz Collection for Jazz Ensemble: 24 Student Books & Score

Twelve different moods in one book: the swinging elegance of Savoy, the cool groove of Cantaloupe Island, the holiday spirit, the rock edge, the Latin heat. Each chart has its own voice, so students experience the breadth of jazz styles without leaving the collection.

Young jazz ensembles (middle school through early high school) that need reliable, varied material that sounds good even with part-time players. This works for jazz clubs, wind ensemble jazz units, and schools building a jazz program from the ground up.

• Study the rhythm section suggestions in your charts before rehearsal. The piano voicings and guitar frames teach your rhythm players the harmonic language of each tune, not just note-reading.
• Record a rehearsal early and play it back to the ensemble. Hearing themselves swing or lock into a Latin groove has more impact than explanation.
• Work written-out solos as sections, not as spotlighting individuals. This builds confidence and teaches phrasing before anyone steps into improvisation.
• Use the flexibility of the instrumentation strategically. If a trumpet is out, you know exactly which chart you can still run full and which ones need adjustment.

Build a concert around the variety. Open with something swinging (Sing, Sing, Sing or Stompin' at the Savoy), move into a ballad (My Funny Valentine), add a holiday chart if the season fits, throw in Latin and rock selections, and close strong. This collection gives you a full concert's worth of sophisticated entertainment without requiring outside material.

• Reading and executing swing rhythms and articulation
• Playing written-out jazz solos with phrasing and style
• Understanding and performing Latin and rock grooves
• Interpreting chord symbols and understanding harmonic function
• Listening to and matching ensemble blend across sections
• Building musicality through study of professional recordings