Embraceable You: E-flat Baritone Saxophone

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.

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.

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.

• 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.

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.

• 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