Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me: SAB Choral Octavo

Zegree's hand with this Duke Ellington standard captures the swagger and sophistication of the original without overwhelming a three-part choir. The arrangement sits comfortably for mixed voices while preserving the harmonic richness that makes this tune instantly recognizable, giving your singers a piece they'll actually want to perform.

Urbane and cool, with the easy confidence of a song that knows exactly what it is. There's room for a touch of attitude here, especially in the rhythmic swagger of the accompaniment and the suave character of the melody.

Choirs comfortable with basic jazz idioms and looking to expand their secular repertoire. This works equally well for high school and college ensembles, as well as community choruses seeking a sophisticated but singable standard.

• Treat the rhythm section parts (if present) as essential to the groove rather than accompaniment; the swing feel depends on locking in those comping patterns early.
• Shape the melody with the natural phrasing of speech and lyric content, resisting the urge to over-phrase at bar lines.
• Balance the inner voices so supporting harmonies land without disappearing; SAB writing often asks the middle voice to carry important harmonic color.

Drop this into a program celebrating American songbook standards, or pair it with other vocal jazz selections to create a cohesive set. The 10-page length makes it manageable for a concert without requiring extended rehearsal time, freeing you to develop other, more demanding works.

• Swing rhythm and jazz articulation
• Harmonic listening in a three-part texture
• Lyric interpretation in a classic standard
• Ensemble balance with equal-weight voice parts