Embraceable You: Vocal Solo with Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts
Vocal Feature
Words by Ira Gershwin, music by George Gershwin / arr. Dave Wolpe
Grade: 3 (Medium)
Item: 00-PK-0004447
$62.00
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Description
Romantic songs always communicate well with the audience, and this Gershwin¨ classic is one of the best. This flexible arrangement is written in two keys by creative arranger Dave Wolpe. The higher key is designed for a male vocalist and the lower key for your female vocalist, and the parts are printed back to back---just flip the page. Low (female) key of C range is G below middle C to third line B. High (male) key (F) range is middle C to fourth space E. This is a must-have vocal solo with jazz ensemble---superb!
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Embraceable You: Vocal Solo with Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
Jazz Vocal Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
82
SKU:
00-PK-0004447
More about this title
About the Composer: George Gershwin
George Gershwin (1898, 1937) bridged classical and popular music in ways that few composers have managed. His gift for melody, combined with his understanding of jazz idioms and Broadway theater, created works that remain central to American music education. "Embraceable You" exemplifies his ability to write a song that feels both sophisticated and immediately accessible to performers and audiences alike.
Gershwin's influence on jazz pedagogy extends beyond this single piece. His harmonic language, rhythmic flexibility, and approach to blending classical technique with vernacular music continue to shape how we teach ensemble musicians to think about style, arrangement, and interpretation. For student musicians, learning his work means encountering a composer who genuinely understood what both amateurs and professionals could achieve together.
Why we love this
Dave Wolpe's dual-key arrangement solves a real casting challenge without sacrificing the song's sophisticated harmonic language. The back-to-back printing is a practical stroke that makes rehearsal seamless, and the Grade 3 scoring gives your ensemble plenty to sink their teeth into while keeping the focus on the vocalist's lyrical storytelling.
What to expect
Warm, intimate, and swaying. The arrangement captures the Gershwin touch: blues-tinged harmonies that feel both modern and timeless, with space for the vocalist to settle into the lyric. There's an ease and elegance here that invites genuine connection between performer and listener.
Who it's for
Directors leading jazz ensembles with vocalist soloists who need sophisticated yet accessible repertoire. This arrangement works equally well for a single featured vocalist or as a recital piece for a student exploring the American songbook with jazz accompaniment.
How to get the most out of it
- The rhythm section should listen closely to the vocalist's phrasing rather than locking rigidly to click. Gershwin's melodies breathe, and the jazz ensemble works best when it supports that natural elasticity.
- Balance the ensemble texture so that the horn section frames the vocalist without overwhelming. This is a love song, not a showstopper, and clarity of the vocal line matters most.
- Rehearse the vocalist and rhythm section together early. Once that core relationship is solid, layer in the horns for a cohesive whole.
How to use it
Place this in a spring concert as a bridge between your ensemble's more driving charts and a classical finale, or feature it as the centerpiece of a jazz standards program. The romantic quality and clear melodic focus make it an excellent vehicle for showcasing both your soloist and the ensemble's ability to accompany with sensitivity.
Skills your students will build
- Accompanying a solo vocalist with sensitivity and flexible ensemble balance
- Playing jazz comping and rhythm section patterns in two different keys
- Interpreting swing style within a melodic, ballad context
- Reading and performing from a full score with multiple transpositions