Come Fly With Me: The Best Of Sammy Cahn: Choral Instrumental Pak

Kirby Shaw's arrangement distills three Cahn standards into a single, cohesive medley that feels like a conversation rather than a medley. The piece celebrates the sophistication of Cahn's writing without demanding virtuosity from singers, making it genuinely useful for ensembles that want to program jazz standards with confidence.

Sophisticated and buoyant in equal measure. These three songs move through different emotional territories—the breezy wanderlust of "Come Fly With Me," the tender vulnerability of "The Tender Trap," and the wistful reflection of "Time After Time"—yet the arrangement unifies them into a single arc that feels like a toast to American optimism.

Choirs with solid intonation and comfort in jazz-influenced harmony who want to add accessible American standards to their repertoire. Combo voicing keeps the ensemble lean enough for smaller groups or mixed ensembles, while the arrangement's accessibility makes it valuable for intermediate to advanced singers.

• Let the rhythm section lock in first. Once drums, bass, and piano establish the groove, the voices will sit naturally into the pocket rather than fight for the tempo.
• Shape each song's opening with rubato. These standards expect a touch of breathing room in the first phrases before settling into swing; give yourself permission to lean on the melody.
• Balance the jazz voicings by testing them in sections before full ensemble rehearsals. Voices that sound thin alone often bloom once the instrumental parts provide harmonic context.
• Record yourself singing the top line with just the bass and drums to internalize the swing feel independently of the full arrangement's texture.

Use this as a closing piece for a standards-focused concert or as a bridge between classical and contemporary repertoire. The five-and-a-half-minute duration makes it ideal for filling a concert slot or serving as a crowd-pleasing finale without demanding extended rehearsal time relative to its impact.

• Phrasing and interpretation within jazz idioms
• Swing rhythm and rhythmic precision against walking bass lines
• Balanced blend in jazz voicings and four-part harmony
• Song form awareness and transitional singing across tempo and mood changes
• Listening to and following instrumental soloists while maintaining ensemble cohesion