I'm Getting Sentimental Over You: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score

Scott Ragsdale's arrangement captures the song's nostalgic charm while injecting genuine funk and swing energy that keeps ensembles engaged. The written solos for trombone 2 and tenor saxophone give your section leaders concrete material to build from, and the drum fills with band hits create those satisfying ensemble moments that make rehearsals feel purposeful.

The alternation between funky, syncopated sections and swinging passages gives this familiar melody new life. There's a retro-modern quality to the arrangement: you hear the original song's warmth and lyricism, but the grooves, horn punctuations, and drum conversation feel contemporary and playful.

This score works well for advancing high school jazz ensembles or strong middle school groups with experienced soloists and a solid rhythm section. Directors seeking a recognizable standard with fresh groove sensibility will find this arrangement strikes a good balance between accessibility and musical substance.

• Lock the groove between drums and bass on the funky sections; the pocket here is what makes the feel distinctive, so spend time getting that rhythmic foundation solid before layering in the horn parts.
• Balance the written solos against the ensemble so the melody stays audible even as soloists take their moments. The swing feel passages especially benefit from a light touch in the background.
• Use the optional vibes part to add color and definition during passages where you want to brighten the harmonic landscape without adding volume.
• Mark the tempo clearly at 170 BPM and check it against the recorded version if available; maintaining this pace is essential to the arrangement's energy and the precision of the drum fills.

Program this as a strong mid-set number that shifts the mood without breaking ensemble energy. It pairs well alongside other standards that benefit from contemporary arranging, and the 4:50 duration gives it enough substance to anchor a small-group spotlight set if your ensemble has strong section soloists.

• Navigating funk and swing feels at a single tempo (groove consistency across style shifts)
• Listening to written solos while maintaining ensemble cohesion
• Reading a full conductor score with multiple instrumental voicings and drum notation
• Responding to rhythmic figures that emphasize syncopation and band hits
• Understanding the role of optional instrumentation in coloring a chart without changing its core identity