Come Fly With Me: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

John Berry's arrangement captures what makes this standard timeless without overcomplicating it for younger players. The medium swing feel sits comfortably in the pocket, giving your ensemble room to develop phrasing and articulation without drowning in technical demands. Your students will recognize the tune immediately, which means they can focus on listening to each other and locking in the groove.

An effortless groove that feels like a cool evening with excellent company. The melody carries warmth and nostalgia while the rhythm section swings with relaxed confidence, creating an atmosphere where both ensemble and audience can settle in and enjoy themselves.

Grade 3 jazz ensembles ready to explore the American songbook with accessibility and style. This arrangement works equally well for groups with limited improvisation experience or those looking to add a polished, recognizable standard to their concert.

• Keep the swing eighth notes consistent across the ensemble; slight rushing is far more common than dragging at this level, so have the rhythm section establish the feel first during separate sectional rehearsals.
• Balance the melody line so it floats above the accompaniment rather than fighting against it. This is a song about elegance, not projection.
• Shape the phrases musically even within the medium swing context. Cahn wrote lyrics for these melodies, so think about breath points and emotional arcs rather than simply hitting the written notes.
• Pay attention to the soli sections if present. These moments often expose tuning issues and blend problems, so rehearse them in smaller groups before full ensemble run-throughs.

Pair this with other mid-century standards or use it as a breather between more demanding pieces in a jazz concert. It also serves beautifully as a gateway into swing styles for ensembles coming from a classical background, building comfort with jazz phrasing and feel before tackling harder charts.

• Swing eighth note interpretation and consistency across the ensemble
• Phrase shaping and musical breathing within a jazz context
• Blend and balance between melody and accompanying voices
• Listening to and locking with a steady harmonic rhythm
• Understanding how lyrical content informs instrumental interpretation