Holiday Jazz!: Guitar

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.

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.

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.

• 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.

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.

• 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