Both Hands Swingin': Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

Vuono's arrangement honors the swing tradition while introducing unexpected harmonic color through the whole tone opening, immediately signaling to your ensemble that this isn't a rote head chart. The written solos for tenor and trumpet remove barriers for players still developing their improvisation chops, letting the entire ensemble tackle this Grade 4 chart without sacrificing musical credibility.

This chart swings with infectious energy from the first measure. The whole tone introduction creates sophisticated harmonic tension that resolves into a propulsive swing groove grounded in the harmonic language of jazz standards, delivering that professional big band feeling that middle and high school ensembles crave.

Jazz ensemble directors working with Grade 4 groups who want contemporary swing charts that don't compromise musicianship. Tenor and trumpet players benefit from both written solos that can anchor their first attempts at a swinging sound and the built-in challenge to add their own ideas once comfortable.

• Shape the whole tone introduction with clear dynamic intent. This is your hook; let the harmonic ambiguity breathe without rhythmic rushiness.
• Have tenor 1 and trumpet 2 mark their solo sections in rehearsal with specific dynamic targets and phrasing ideas before attempting improvisation, using the written solos as a roadmap for style and register.
• Lock the rhythm section's swing feel early by isolating the bass and drums on the Take the A-Train changes for 5-10 minutes at rehearsal start; this foundation makes the written lines sit cleanly.
• Balance the melody statement so it cuts through the ensemble without forcing the section. Vuono's voicing is designed to support the tune, not bury it.

Program this as a centerpiece for a jazz concert or pops concert where you want to showcase ensemble cohesion and solo features. It sits well alongside other swing repertoire and serves as a natural entry point for Grade 4 ensembles exploring more complex harmonic territory within the swing idiom.

• Playing and understanding whole tone harmony and its resolution
• Swing phrasing and articulation in an ensemble context
• Reading and executing written jazz solos as stepping stones to improvisation
• Balancing solo features with ensemble texture and support
• Locking into a consistent swing groove with clear section roles