Chicago! (from the Musical Chicago!): Score
Featuring: My Own Best Friend / Razzle Dazzle / And All That Jazz
Words and music by Fred Ebb and John Kander / arr. Victor López
Grade: 3 (Medium Easy)
Item: 00-PR-0004382
$9.00
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Description
This Broadway sensation keeps drawing the crowds. Victor López has scored a home run with his fresh new medley of all of your favorite selections from the musical including: "My Own Best Friend," "Razzle Dazzle," and of course, "All That Jazz." Don't miss this new arrangement scored at the concert band level. It's hot. A certain audience pleaser. (4:18)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Chicago! (from the Musical Chicago!): Score comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
Pop Concert Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
372
SKU:
00-PR-0004382
More about this title
About the Composer: John Kander
John Kander composed the score for Chicago, one of the most celebrated musicals in American theater. His work with lyricist Fred Ebb created songs that became standards, known for their sophistication, rhythmic drive, and ability to capture the energy of 1920s Chicago. Kander's music has shaped musical theater for decades, and his compositions remain central to the repertoire that conductors and performers return to again and again.
Beyond Chicago, Kander's compositional voice appears throughout musical theater history, from Cabaret to Kiss of the Spider Woman. His melodies are instantly recognizable, built on strong harmonic foundations and orchestral clarity that translate remarkably well to concert band settings.
Why we love this
Victor López's medley cuts straight to the heart of what makes Chicago unforgettable, building excitement through familiar melodies while keeping the ensemble engaged throughout. The Grade 3 voicing balances accessibility with genuine sophistication, so your band gets to sound polished without fighting the arrangement. This is the kind of piece that energizes a concert program and reminds audiences why they love live music.
What to expect
Glamorous, energetic, and unapologetically fun. The music captures the sass and swagger of Chicago's jazz age, shifting from sultry and intimate to bright and propulsive. Your audience will recognize these tunes instantly, and your band will feel the thrill of playing music that swings.
Who it's for
Concert bands working at the Grade 3 level who want to program Broadway material that feels substantial and musically rewarding. Directors seeking an arrangement that builds ensemble cohesion through well-known melodies while staying within accessible technical demands.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish the rhythmic precision early in rehearsal. The jazz inflections and syncopation in selections like 'All That Jazz' demand clean articulation and locked ensemble rhythms, especially in the winds and percussion.
- Shape the dynamic arcs within each section. The medley moves between intimate moments ("My Own Best Friend") and driving ensemble passages; resist the urge to play everything at full volume and let the contrasts breathe.
- Balance the solo and soli passages carefully. Several moments feature small group writing; make sure featured voices can project clearly without drowning out the harmonic foundation underneath.
- Pay attention to style and character in each selection. The Broadway context invites a slightly more theatrical approach to phrasing than a typical concert work, so encourage your ensemble to lean into the personality of each tune.
How to use it
Program this as a concert centerpiece or closer when you want to shift mood and energy. Pair it alongside other pop or musical theater selections for a themed concert, or use it as a springboard to talk with students about how Broadway scores translate to the concert band medium. The 4:18 duration makes it substantial without overwhelming a single-concert format.
Skills your students will build
- Articulation and style in jazz-influenced contexts
- Dynamic shaping and musical phrasing across a multi-section form
- Ensemble balance with featured solos and soli passages
- Rhythmic precision in syncopated and swing-oriented figures
- Musicality and character interpretation in theatrical contexts