Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me: Choral SoundPax

Meader's arrangement captures the sophisticated ease that made Ellington's songwriting legendary. The swing feel sits naturally in the voice parts without demanding operatic training, and the economical instrumentation (piano, bass, drums) makes this accessible for school and community choirs while preserving the tune's elegant harmonic movement.

Sophisticated and breezy. The melody unfolds with the conversational ease of a jazz standard, supported by warm piano voicings and a propulsive but relaxed rhythm section. There's genuine swing here, but it's approachable; the overall effect is more intimate lounge than bebop.

This arrangement works for mixed or treble choirs in high school, college, and community settings who want to engage with jazz repertoire without requiring specialized vocal technique. It serves well for groups comfortable with swing style and ready to move beyond traditional show choir into the Great American Songbook.

• Plant the groove early in rehearsal by having the rhythm section establish the swing feel before the choir enters; this grounds the singers in the correct rhythmic pocket and prevents a stilted interpretation.
• Balance the vocal lines carefully against the accompaniment; the lyricism of the melody should float above the jazz trio rather than compete with it.
• Address any syncopated entrances explicitly during sectional rehearsals so singers feel confident in placing their parts within the swing rhythm.

Program this alongside other Ellington compositions or within a set devoted to the Great American Songbook. Its moderate length and concert-ready sound make it valuable for pops concerts, jazz or standards-themed events, or mixed repertoire programs seeking a bridge between classical and popular idioms.

• singing jazz phrasing and articulation
• maintaining rhythmic independence in a swing style
• tracking independent melodic or harmonic lines against a moving rhythm section
• interpreting lyrics with jazz sensibility and conversational ease