Exciting Sounds of the Big Band Era: 1st E-flat Alto Saxophone Book

Stepping into the golden age of American big band jazz. These fifteen classics carry the energy and sophistication of 1930s and 1940s dance halls, with melodies that stay with you long after rehearsal ends. Your alto sits at the heart of the ensemble sound, leading and supporting in equal measure.

First-chair alto saxophonists in high school and college jazz ensembles who are ready to move beyond simple swing etudes into legitimate big band literature. Players at this level should be comfortable with basic jazz articulation and can handle moderate ranges and straightforward lead lines.

• Anchor your tone in the middle register and let the natural brightness of E-flat alto cut through the ensemble; resist the urge to overshadow the section or add unnecessary vibrato on ballads like 'At Last'
• Lock the rhythmic feel with your section mates before focusing on individual phrasing; big band jazz demands precision in articulation and timing, especially on swing tunes where the groove is everything
• Study the original recordings of these standards to internalize the idiom's phrasing and attack; written music alone won't give you the snap and swing these classics demand

Build a big band concert around this collection as your opening or closing set, pairing it with similar-era arrangements to create a cohesive evening. These standards also work beautifully as a rehearsal foundation during the fall semester, establishing ensemble blend and jazz vocabulary before tackling more complex charts.

• Reading lead alto parts in swing and jazz contexts
• Jazz articulation and phrasing conventions
• Balancing solo lyricism with ensemble responsibility
• Intonation and tone blending within a section
• Rhythm section synchronization and groove alignment