Holiday Jazz!: Choral SoundPax
Words by John Jacobson, music by Kirby Shaw
Item: 00-PK-0008627
$15.00
Pickup currently not available
Buy Extra Parts (Digital PDF Download)
| Product | Price | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday Jazz!: Guitar | $3.00 | |
| Holiday Jazz!: String Bass | $3.00 | |
| Holiday Jazz!: Drums | $3.00 |
Parts Added to Cart!
Description
One part Jacobson creativity, and one part Kirby jazz. Kids will adore this chart that's not only a fresh holiday feature, but also a solid introduction to beginning scat singing. Designed with developing groups in mind, but enjoyable for any one. Perform with the swingin' SoundTrax or a live rhythm section (guitar, bass, and drumset SoundPax). As a special bonus, John's choreography is printed in the music.
Holiday Jazz!: Choral SoundPax isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.
Request This Title
Tell us you want it.
Start Your Free Trial
Explore everything that's ready to play right now.
Sample Audio
1
Audio File
--:--
0:00
0:00
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
SKU:
00-PK-0008627
More about this title
About the Composer: Kirby Shaw
Kirby Shaw has influenced choral music education across North America and Europe, presenting his work in 45 states plus Canada, Australia, the Bahamas, Sweden, The Netherlands, Italy, Spain, and Germany. He holds degrees in Music Education and Choral Composition from San Jose State University and a DMA in Choral Conducting from the University of Washington. His teaching combines deep musical knowledge with infectious humor and energy.
Shaw has directed acclaimed vocal jazz ensembles at College of the Siskiyous, Colorado State University, the University of Missouri at Kansas City, and Southern Oregon University. He has studied scat singing directly with Bobby McFerrin, Mark Murphy, Chris Calloway, Al Jarreau, and Jon Hendricks. As a composer and arranger, Shaw has over 2500 choral works in print that have sold nearly 20 million copies worldwide and earned multiple ASCAP awards. He is also a member of Just 4 Kicks, a jazz-focused a cappella quartet.
Why we love this
This chart delivers genuine jazz vocabulary and scat singing technique without overwhelming developing singers. Shaw's gift for writing accessible jazz charts that still sound authentically swinging makes this an ideal entry point for choirs ready to explore the genre beyond show tunes.
What to expect
Joyful and playful, with genuine swing energy that feels nothing like typical holiday fare. The scat singing brings lightness and humor while the jazz harmonies underneath give it real harmonic sophistication, creating a performance that entertains while building serious musical skills.
Who it's for
This octavo works for middle school and high school choirs discovering jazz and scat singing, as well as more experienced groups seeking a fresh holiday feature with genuine musical substance. Choirs with basic musicianship skills can handle the material with careful preparation, while stronger ensembles will find the arrangement rewarding to polish and perform.
How to get the most out of it
- Tackle the scat sections in sections, building comfort with the sounds and rhythmic patterns before running them full tempo. Isolate consonant syllables and repeat them until they feel natural.
- Use the recorded SoundTrax to lock the groove and hear how each voice part sits within the jazz ensemble sound, then transition to a live rhythm section once confidence builds.
- Coordinate the printed choreography with your rehearsal timeline so staging becomes habitual before dress rehearsals; Shaw designed the movement to support the scat material, not distract from it.
- Emphasize swing articulation in the rhythmic unison sections. The difference between straight eighth notes and swung eighths transforms how the piece lands rhythmically and stylistically.
How to use it
Program this as a feature on a holiday concert to shift the mood away from reverent arrangements and inject vocal jazz into your season. Its energy and accessibility make it an excellent centerpiece for a concert section dedicated to contemporary choral jazz, or a standalone number that demonstrates your singers' range and versatility.
Skills your students will build
- Scat singing and jazz syllables
- Swing articulation and phrasing
- Reading jazz harmonies and comping figures
- Movement coordination with musical phrasing
- Ensemble blend in a jazz context