Forget You: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

Paul Murtha's arrangement captures the infectious energy of this modern pop standard while keeping the technical demands reasonable for Grade 3 ensembles. The piece builds smartly, starting with a spotlight on tenor solo work before layering in the saxophone section and brass, giving multiple chairs meaningful moments without overwhelming anyone. It's the kind of chart that gets genuine excitement from students because they recognize the tune and the arrangement respects what makes it work.

Funky and cool with an unmistakable 1960s soul influence. There's a swagger in the writing that feels effortless, with bright brass punctuation and a groove that sits comfortably behind the melody. The arrangement captures the playful attitude of the original while maintaining enough musical sophistication to keep directors satisfied.

Jazz ensembles at the intermediate level looking to program contemporary pop music that still feels musically substantial. This works equally well for concert settings, school assemblies, or informal performance contexts where your students want to play something they actually know and enjoy.

• Keep the initial tenor solo laid back and conversational; the groove matters more than precision tempo work, so lock in with the rhythm section first.
• Balance the full sax section entry carefully. The tenor has already established the melody, so altos and baritone should support rather than compete.
• Lean into the modulation as a real gear shift. Build intensity through the brass section and make the final section feel like a genuine climax, not just louder playing.
• The rhythm section needs to stay crisp and tight throughout, especially during the solo section when they're essentially the only harmonic anchor the tenor has.

Program this as a palate cleanser in a mixed jazz concert, especially if you're balancing it with standard repertoire or more complex charts. It also serves as an excellent anchor piece for a pop/contemporary-music focused concert, where you might pair it with other recognizable hits arranged for young ensembles. Spring concerts work particularly well since the upbeat character and audience recognition create an energetic closer.

• Reading and performing contemporary pop idioms in jazz ensemble context
• Solo spotlight playing with accompaniment support
• Managing dynamic contrast and section balance
• Executing modulation with clear character shift
• Ensemble time feel and groove maintenance