Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

Grade 1 arrangements of Duke's music are rare gifts. This chart gives your ensemble genuine Ellington harmony and melodic integrity without the technical complexity that might slow down learning. The written solos and sax section passages offer real solo opportunities, and the medium swing tempo sits comfortably for students still building their jazz vocabulary.

Sophisticated but never fussy. The chart swings with ease, carried by relaxed rhythmic language and Ellington's gift for memorable melody. Solo passages give individual players moments to shine, while the ensemble writing keeps the focus on ensemble cohesion and swing feel rather than technical showmanship.

Grade 1 jazz ensembles ready to tackle genuine Duke Ellington material. Trumpet players with comfortable range to written F will find satisfying melodic and solo work, while the full ensemble builds core swing vocabulary through parts written with young players in mind.

• Lock the rhythm section (piano, bass, drums) into a relaxed swing feel before layering the horns; the ensemble's phrasing depends entirely on how settled the groove is underneath.
• Shape the sax section solis with clear inner voices so the harmonic movement reads, not just the top line.
• Guide trumpet 1 through the written solo passages with specific attention to the bridge section; treat these like small recitals within the chart, not throwaway moments.
• Emphasize space and silence between phrases, especially after the trumpet 1 solo. Young ensembles tend to push rhythm in swing; restraint will deepen the feel.

Program this as the centerpiece of a Grade 1 jazz showcase or festival slot. Its accessibility and genuine musicality make it an ideal pairing with student-composed originals or other first-year standards, signaling to audiences that your ensemble has moved beyond exercises into real repertoire.

• Reading and playing medium-tempo swing rhythms consistently
• Executing written solo passages with phrasing and musicality
• Balancing individual lines within section soli (saxophone section parts)
• Playing trumpet range up to written F with control
• Understanding Ellington-style harmony through performance