Michael Brown has given this time-honored spiritual new life with this fresh arrangement. It feels like a Blues Brothers two-beat swing chart all the way. There's a short 4-bar repeated solo section that you can open up for any soloist. A hard-driving swinger!
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Michael Brown's arrangement captures the infectious energy of classic soul and R&B grooves while honoring the spiritual's roots. The Blues Brothers sensibility gives your ensemble a chance to stretch into a style that's fun to play, fun to hear, and immediately engaging for an audience. The built-in solo section invites individual voices to shine without requiring extra composition work.
What to expect
Infectious and grounded. The two-beat swing propels the piece forward with a warm, soulful pocket that feels both accessible and undeniably funky. There's a joyful, sing-along quality to the arrangement that makes audiences lean in and want to move.
Who it's for
Jazz ensembles at the intermediate level who want a straightforward, high-energy chart that doesn't require advanced harmonic reading or complex rhythmic subdivisions. This is ideal for groups new to swing styles or building confidence with blues-based grooves and solo improvisation.
How to get the most out of it
Nail the two-beat feel from measure one. Lock your rhythm section into a steady, bouncy pulse that sits slightly behind the beat for that classic swing vibe.
The 4-bar solo section is your moment to rotate soloists. Let different players claim it across rehearsals so everyone gets a chance to interpret those changes.
Keep the ensemble figures tight and rhythmically clean. Sloppy ensemble parts will kill the drive; crisp attacks and releases make the chart fly.
Balance the front-line voices so the melody speaks but doesn't drown out the harmonic motion underneath. This is a groove chart, not a feature showcase.
How to use it
Program this as a concert opener or mid-set lifter. Its upbeat character and familiar spiritual melody make it a perfect bridge between traditional and contemporary contexts. It also works beautifully as a pep-up piece for a concert that leans too heavily toward ballads or serious material.
Skills your students will build
Two-beat swing feel and rhythmic pocket
Blues changes and chord progression
Jazz improvisation over a 4-bar solo section
Ensemble articulation and rhythmic cohesion
Stylistic interpretation of spiritual melody in a contemporary context
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