Hooked on Holidays: Score

López writes for the young jazz band with real understanding of what players at this level can execute while still sounding intentional and swinging. The flexible solo section is a gift to any director: the same chart works whether you have one strong soloist, multiple confident players, or a section that needs to carry the melodic weight together. The arrangement sits comfortably in easy ranges and rhythms, which means your rehearsal time goes toward ensemble cohesion and jazz fundamentals rather than range struggles.

A familiar holiday melody reimagined through a light jazz lens, with enough space and air in the writing to let younger players hear themselves thinking and responding. The easy ranges and straightforward rhythms create room for the ensemble to focus on tone, balance, and the subtle art of playing together in a jazz setting.

This arrangement serves young jazz bands (Grade 0.5) encountering jazz idiom for the first time, as well as more experienced beginner ensembles that need accessible repertoire with authentic swing feel. It works equally well for directors building jazz programs from scratch or for concert bands adding one or two jazz pieces to their season.

• Set the feel early in rehearsals by establishing a relaxed swing eighth-note pulse during warm-ups, then transfer that pocket feeling directly into the chart.
• Experiment with the solo section during sectional rehearsals before the full ensemble runs it; soloists will gain confidence knowing exactly where the changes sit and how their section anchors them.
• Balance the arrangement by reminding rhythm section players that laid-back timekeeping is more effective than pushing; young rhythm players often tense up, which kills the swing.
• Record a sectional run-through early so players can hear how their part contributes to the whole arrangement, especially helpful for winds not carrying the melody.

Program this during winter concerts as a palate-cleansing bridge between traditional holiday material and your concert band repertoire, or feature it as the opening number in a holiday pops concert to establish an upbeat, accessible tone. The quick learning curve makes it ideal for February jazz festivals or end-of-winter concert programming when rehearsal time is tight.

• Reading jazz articulations and phrasing marks in score and parts
• Responding to flexible solo section frameworks (ensemble unison, harmony, section, and individual improvisation)
• Playing with swing feel and understanding the relationship between rhythm section and front line
• Balancing in small jazz ensemble voicings
• Listening and adjusting intonation in jazz harmony contexts