Have a Cool Yule: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts
Arr. Mike Lewis
Grade: 3 (Medium)
Item: 00-PK-0002459
$52.00
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Description
Swing into the holiday season with an easy-to-play medley of popular carols. Mike Lewis has jazzed up some great yuletime favorites: "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen," "Jolly Old St. Nicholas," "Up on the Housetop," and "Deck the Halls." Although it's easy (which helps if you're short on rehearsal time), this is an excellent opportunity to reinforce the swing style in performance with your band while presenting material for the holidays. Medium Easy (3:04)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Have a Cool Yule: 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 Band Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
86
SKU:
00-PK-0002459
More about this title
Why we love this
This arrangement strikes the rare balance of being genuinely playable for a Grade 3 ensemble while still swinging hard enough to feel like real jazz, not a simplified version. Four beloved carols woven together mean you get substantial holiday programming without the rehearsal burden, leaving time to focus on articulation, ensemble blend, and the rhythmic precision that swing demands.
What to expect
Warm, swinging, and festive without the syrup. The familiar carol melodies float over a steady jazz groove, and the arrangement respects both the material and the style, creating something that sounds intentional rather than cute. There's joy in the straightforward voicing and the rhythm section's steady pocket.
Who it's for
Jazz ensemble directors programming winter concerts who need music that's genuinely accessible (Grade 3) but still demands musicianship in swing interpretation. Ensembles with limited rehearsal time will appreciate a medley structure that delivers four recognizable pieces without stretching the group beyond its technical level.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish the swing eighth-note feel early in sectional rehearsals. Have rhythm section and horns practice the opening together to lock the groove before full ensemble run-throughs.
- Mark the backbeat in the parts or verbally cue it during rehearsals so soloists and supporting voices clearly hear where the pocket lives, especially during the smoother sections.
- Balance the melody line across sections as you transition between carols. Each tune gets its moment; ensure no single voice dominates during transitions or tutti passages.
- Keep the tempo steady at 3:04. Resist the urge to rush; let the swing feel breathe, and the carols will land with humor and warmth rather than sounding frantic.
How to use it
Slot this into a holiday or winter concert as a crowd-pleasing centerpiece, ideally after an opening classical or contemporary piece to show range and before a closing selection with more weight. The three-minute duration makes it perfect for a full concert without filler, and its accessibility means your ensemble can perform it confidently even late in a busy concert season.
Skills your students will build
- Playing eighth notes with swing feel and consistent articulation
- Reading jazz ensemble voicing (big band style with saxophones, brass sections, and rhythm section parts)
- Listening and locking into ensemble rhythm section groove
- Balancing melodic lines across a four-carol medley structure
- Interpreting jazz articulation and dynamics in a familiar, singable context