How About You?: Vocal Solo with Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

Dave Wolpe's arrangement captures the playful spirit of this standard while keeping the ensemble writing clean and supportive of the vocalist. The dual-key format solves real scheduling headaches: you can feature different soloists throughout the year without rearranging or transposing on the fly.

Buoyant and warm, with a conversational quality that invites the audience in. The arrangement sits comfortably in that sweet spot between classic swing and approachable groove, never demanding anything the band can't deliver while still sounding sophisticated.

Jazz ensembles at the high school or community college level looking for a standard that doesn't require vocal stars but rewards strong singers. Directors who rotate multiple vocalists benefit from having two key options in a single package.

• Keep the ensemble's swing feel relaxed and slightly laid-back. The rhythm section should breathe together rather than lock mechanically, which allows the vocalist space to phrase naturally.
• Balance the vocalist prominently in rehearsal balances; the ensemble provides color and punctuation, not competition for the spotlight.
• Let the band work through the swing articulations and rhythmic nuances separately before combining with voice. Consistent tonguing on the horn sections makes the arrangement groove.

Feature this on a jazz or standards-focused concert where you're mixing instrumental numbers with vocal features. At roughly two minutes, it's the right length for a program that includes longer ensemble pieces or longer compositions, giving variety in texture and energy.

• Swing articulation and phrasing in section playing
• Ensemble balance when accompanying a soloist
• Vocal jazz interpretation and sustained phrasing
• Jazz comping and responsive accompaniment from the rhythm section
• Reading transposed parts (two keys across one score)