Duke Ellington!: Concert Band Conductor Score

Calvin Custer's medley captures four of Ellington's most iconic standards in a single, cohesive concert band arrangement that respects the originals while celebrating ensemble color and dynamics. The piece delivers genuine swing and sophistication at a manageable technical level, letting your band focus on musicality and articulation rather than wrestling with complexity. Programming this earns you a standing ovation and introduces students to jazz composition beyond what most classical repertoire can offer.

The medley breathes with the elegance and coolness Ellington brought to every composition. Melodies float over lush, sophisticated harmonies; there's swing in the rhythm, wit in the orchestration, and a sense of refinement that keeps the listener engaged across all seven and a half minutes. The arrangement honors Ellington's gift for making complexity sound natural and effortless.

This score is built for conductors leading Grade 4 concert bands who want to program genuine jazz repertoire alongside classical and contemporary works. It works especially well for ensembles with solid fundamentals and players who can tune chords and phrase with flexibility. The 44-page score gives you plenty of material to rehearse and perform, making it an excellent choice for a featured concert or jazz-focused program.

• Establish the swing feel early in rehearsal by listening to Ellington's original recordings and discussing how the rhythm section drives the pocket; concert band students often interpret swing too mechanically without hearing the human quality.
• Balance the melody line against the jazz harmonies underneath; Custer's arrangement creates multiple voices playing thematic material, so section leaders must listen across the band to ensure the primary tune cuts through without overshadowing the fuller harmonic picture.
• Shape dynamic arcs within each tune rather than treating each section as isolated blocks; the medley's strength lies in the narrative flow from one classic to the next, so smooth transitions and intentional crescendos help the arc feel inevitable rather than episodic.
• Give special attention to the rhythm section's articulation and phrasing; even small choices about note placement, release, and swing eighth-notes change whether the band swings or sits.

Feature this as the centerpiece of a jazz concert or as a bridge piece that introduces classical musicians to the standards repertoire. It pairs well with other big-band transcriptions or as a contrast to straight concert band classicism. The medley format also makes it suitable for pops concerts or tribute programs celebrating American composers.

• Swing eighth-note interpretation and articulation
• Listening to harmonic movement while maintaining melodic clarity
• Phrasing across phrase lengths that don't align with four-bar squares
• Ensemble balance between lead voices and supporting harmonies
• Jazz style conventions and their application in concert band setting