Blues Back to Back Cover Image

Blues Back to Back: SATB Choral Octavo

$2.10 USD
$2.10 USD
Skip to product information
Blues Back to Back Cover Image
Blues Back to Back: SATB Choral Octavo

Blues Back to Back: SATB Choral Octavo

The Birth of the Blues / Blues in the Night

Arr. Kirby Shaw

Item: 00-45514

Need it now?

Buy Digital Version
$2.10
Shipped

One moment…

Related Items

Blues Back to Back: SoundTrax Digital Audio Download

$29.99
View

Blues Back to Back: SATB Choral Octavo

$2.10
View

Blues Back to Back: SAB Choral Octavo

$2.10
View
Description
This combination of two blockbusters from the golden age of American songwriters is filled with all the jazzy nuances needed to maintain that original appeal. Use the SoundTrax CD or a live combo to really make them shine!

Blues Back to Back: SATB Choral Octavo isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.

Request This Title

Tell us you want it.

Start Your Free Trial

Explore everything that's ready to play right now.
Sample Pages

Sample Audio
0:00
0:00
Sample Video
Additional Details
Series: Alfred Pop Choral Series
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 16
UPC: 038081512532
SKU: 00-45514

More about this title

About the Arranger: Kirby Shaw

Kirby Shaw

Kirby Shaw has shaped choral music education across five continents, bringing his distinctive blend of scholarly training and infectious energy to directors and singers from California to Sweden. Holding degrees in Music Education and Choral Composition from San Jose State University and a DMA in Choral Conducting from the University of Washington, he founded and directed acclaimed vocal jazz ensembles at College of the Siskiyous, Colorado State University, and the University of Missouri at Kansas City. His collaborative relationships with master vocalists including Bobby McFerrin, Al Jarreau, and Jon Hendricks deepened his understanding of improvisation and vocal artistry, insights he channels into every arrangement.

With over 2,500 choral works in print and nearly 20 million copies sold worldwide, Shaw stands among the most performed contemporary choral composers and arrangers. His prolific catalog has earned multiple ASCAP awards, and his music reaches choirs in concert halls, classrooms, and worship spaces around the globe. Currently directing the Jefferson State Choral Coalition at Southern Oregon University and performing with the a cappella ensemble Just 4 Kicks, he continues to create work that challenges and delights singers at every level.

Why we love this

Shaw's gift for capturing the spirit of Great American Songbook standards while making them accessible to high school and community choirs shines throughout this pairing. The jazzy sophistication and harmonic language feel grown-up without demanding excessive vocal acrobatics, and the arrangement respects the original songs' character while giving your singers genuine ensemble work with real parts.

What to expect

Smooth, sophisticated, and swinging. These songs carry the warmth and storytelling of the golden age of American songwriting, wrapped in contemporary harmonic language that feels both respectful of the originals and freshly voiced for a choir.

Who it's for

Directors programming pops or secular concerts who want arrangements with real musicianship and harmonic substance. High school and community choirs comfortable with SATB voicing and willing to embrace jazz phrasing and rhythmic flexibility.

How to get the most out of it

  • Reference recordings of the original versions before rehearsal; understanding the iconic vocal styles and rhythm section grooves will help your singers locate the blues feel in their own parts.
  • Balance the rhythm section (if using a live combo) so the vocalists sit slightly forward in the mix; these arrangements thrive on that interaction between voices and instruments.
  • Mark the swing rhythms and syncopated entrances clearly in rehearsal, since many singers are trained to subdivide straight eighth notes rather than feel the triplet-based swing pulse.
  • Let the soloist or lead section breathe; Shaw's arranging style often leaves space for individual character to emerge, especially in key phrases.

How to use it

Pair this with other Shaw arrangements or lighter pop selections for a concert that balances accessibility with musical substance. The 16-page length makes it substantial enough to anchor a set without dominating a full evening, and the jazz elements pair naturally with swing-era standards or contemporary pop arrangements.

Skills your students will build

  • Swing rhythm and triplet-based subdivision
  • Jazz chord changes and harmonic hearing in a secular context
  • Phrasing and interpretation of American popular song
  • Ensemble balance and blend across varied harmonic textures
  • Syncopated rhythm entrances and part independence

You May Also Like