I Only Have Eyes for You: SATB Choral Octavo

Mark Hayes's arrangement transforms this jazz standard into a vehicle for genuine ensemble fun, balancing accessibility with musical sophistication. The scat passage gives soloists a moment to shine while keeping the energy infectious, and the syncopated rhythms throughout train singers to lock into jazz phrasing without ever feeling overly complicated. It's the kind of piece that singers remember fondly and audiences genuinely enjoy.

Bright, playful, and full of forward motion, this arrangement sparkles with syncopated rhythms and unexpected harmonic turns that keep the familiar melody feeling fresh. The scat singing and big-band textures evoke the joy of a smoky jazz club transported into the concert hall, all while the contemporary humor threads through with a knowing smile.

This octavo works for mixed choirs of intermediate skill and above who want to program something current and fun without sacrificing musical substance. It suits community, church, and school choirs ready to explore jazz arranging and give singers a taste of swing-era sensibility.

• Establish the swing groove early in rehearsal by tapping the backbeat and getting the ensemble to feel the triplet subdivision underneath the notated rhythms; this makes the syncopations land naturally rather than feeling forced.
• Treat the scat section as a true solo opportunity: assign it to a section leader or willing volunteer and give that person space to interpret the rhythmic figures with personality and confidence.
• Balance the jazz flavor with clarity of text; the contemporary twist about masking only lands if the audience hears the lyrics with crisp diction, especially during the syncopated passages.

Program this alongside other standards or pop arrangements to anchor a "Timeless Melodies" or "Jazz Standards" concert section; it pairs naturally with other Alfred Pop Choral Series selections. The upbeat energy and humor make it an excellent closer for a first-half set or a mid-concert pick-me-up that refreshes the audience's attention.

• Swing rhythm and syncopated jazz phrasing
• Scat singing techniques and rhythmic flexibility
• Blend and intonation in chromatic harmonic passages
• Text clarity under rhythmic complexity