I've Grown Accustomed to Her (His) Face: Vocal Solo with Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

Scott Ragsdale's arrangement captures the intimacy of this beloved standard while giving your jazz ensemble a genuinely playable chart. The straight-eighth feel keeps things grounded and accessible at Grade 3.5, and the built-in flexibility (optional parts for five different instruments plus gender-neutral lyrics) means you can cast it for whoever owns the best voice in your program.

Tender and reflective, with the kind of bittersweet acceptance that makes this song linger after the final chord. The straight-eighth groove keeps it contemporary and grounded rather than nostalgic, letting the melody's elegance speak for itself.

Jazz ensembles with a strong vocalist (or strong vocalists, given the instrumental substitution options) looking to program a sophisticated standard that audiences recognize and singers genuinely enjoy performing. Directors seeking material that balances jazz credibility with theatrical warmth will find this valuable.

• Balance the vocalist's narrative quality against the ensemble's rhythmic pocket. The song's power comes from the story, not the swing.
• Work the alto sax solo until the written-out changes feel conversational rather than mechanical; this is a moment for the soloist to breathe with the lyric.
• Keep the lead trumpet clean and present without overwhelming the vocalist during ensemble backgrounds; their range to written A sits high enough that dynamic control matters.
• Shape the arrangement's dynamics across its 4:20 length so the piece builds naturally toward a satisfying close rather than peaking early.

Pair this with other standards from your jazz vocal library to build a set that highlights your ensemble's maturity and musicianship. It works equally well as a concert closer (especially one that emphasizes the storytelling side of jazz) or as part of a themed showcase on standards arranged for contemporary jazz ensembles.

• Trading 8s and full choruses between soloist and ensemble
• Dynamic control in unison passages to support a vocalist
• Straight-eighth jazz groove with authentic comping against lyrical melodic lines
• Listening and responding to a vocalist's phrasing and interpretation
• Reading optional instrumental parts to facilitate flexible casting