Come Fly With Me: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

Quincy Jones's arrangement captures the infectious energy of Sinatra's recording while remaining playable for intermediate jazz ensembles. Mike Tomaro's adaptation respects the original voicings and style while giving your students access to an arrangement that sounds genuinely professional in performance. This is a standard that audiences recognize instantly, making it an excellent vehicle for teaching authentic jazz interpretation.

Playful, upbeat, and cinematic. The piece swings with a lightness that makes it irresistible, full of clever voicings and rhythmic punch. There's elegance here too, especially in the ballad passages, a reminder that swing doesn't mean losing refinement.

Jazz ensemble directors working with intermediate players (high school or advanced middle school) who want an authentic standard that teaches real big band writing and arranging craft. Your students will hear how Quincy Jones builds texture and momentum while maintaining the sophistication of the original tune.

• Keep the swing feel relaxed and buoyant; the rhythm section should lay back slightly rather than pushing the beat forward. The groove lives in the pocket, not on top of it.
• Balance the horn section carefully during ensemble passages. Melody voices should cut through, but the harmonic support needs to stay grounded and warm.
• Articulate the punchy rhythmic figures with clarity and consistency across the band. These moments define the arrangement's character and snap.
• Work the dynamics to create shape and momentum; let phrase endings breathe naturally rather than cutting them off sharply.

Pair this with other standards from the same era to build a full jazz curriculum, or use it as your opener at a spring concert where you want immediate audience engagement. It works equally well in a jazz festival setting where judges will recognize the authenticity of the arrangement and your ensemble's execution.

• Swing articulation and rhythmic placement
• Reading and interpreting jazz voicings and chord progressions
• Balance and blend in multi-section ensemble writing
• Phrasing and dynamics in standard-based arrangements
• Listening and responding to rhythm section cues