I Get a Kick Out of You: Vocal Solo with Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score

Wolpe understands how to write for vocalists without drowning them out. The arrangement gives the singer genuine musical space while the ensemble sounds sophisticated and swung, and the reversible parts mean you don't need two separate purchases to accommodate different voice types. That's craft meeting practicality.

Sophisticated, playful, and swinging. Cole Porter's melody sits perfectly in the pocket of a well-arranged ensemble, and Wolpe's writing lets the vocalist shine without sacrificing the band's voice. It's the sound of a good night out at a jazz club, with enough musical substance to make everyone on stage feel like professionals.

Any jazz ensemble working with a vocalist who has the maturity to handle a classic standard with style and control. This works equally well for a high school or college jazz vocal soloist, and the two-key format removes the excuse of transposition limitations.

• Balance the alto solo with the vocalist's entrance; the ensemble should support, not compete, once the vocalist enters.
• The choice between B-flat and E-flat keys matters for the vocalist's comfort and power zone. Rehearse with the key that lets your singer sit naturally in the middle-to-upper range rather than pushing toward extremes.
• Lock the rhythm section's swing feel early. The ensemble's pocket depends on the drums and bass committing to the same articulation and placement of beats.
• Give the vocalist time to breathe during ensemble passages. Mark those moments in rehearsal so everyone knows when the vocalist is resting and regaining air.

Feature this at a jazz concert or variety show where you want to showcase both your vocalist and ensemble strength. It works well in the second half of a program, after you've established the band's instrumental chops, as a shift in mood and focus.

• Balancing vocal line with ensemble accompaniment
• Swing articulation and phrasing in a standard
• Reading and performing from the appropriate transposed key
• Listening to and supporting a featured soloist
• Jazz ensemble cohesion in a head-and-solo chart structure