I Wanna Be Around: Lead Sheet

This folio captures the essence of Bennett's artistic legacy in a single, practical resource. The curated selection spans the most essential standards and swings, making it an invaluable reference for jazz programs, vocal students, and pianists building fluency in the classic American repertoire. Bennett's interpretations set the gold standard for phrasing and emotional clarity in this idiom.

Opening this folio is like inheriting a carefully maintained collection of conversation pieces. Each standard carries its own story and emotional terrain, yet they fit together as a coherent artistic statement. There's elegance in the restraint of a lead sheet; the music invites your own artistry while honoring decades of refined taste.

Jazz vocalists building a repertoire foundation, pianists studying jazz standards and comping, and ensemble directors seeking authentic arrangements of canonical Great American Songbook material. Singers at intermediate to advanced levels will find both familiar favorites and lesser-known gems worthy of serious study.

• Listen to Bennett's original recordings before finalizing your interpretation. His rhythmic placement, vibrato, and phrasing choices offer masterclasses in how to inhabit these standards authentically.
• Treat the lead sheet as a framework, not a ceiling. Bennett's genius lay in respecting the melody while finding space for personal expression; encourage singers to find their own voice within these timeless changes.
• Pay close attention to chord extensions and substitutions in the changes. These voicings reflect the harmonic sophistication of the era and reward careful comping and solo preparation.

Feature selections from this collection in jazz concert programs, pairing them with student arrangements or small-group interpretations to highlight different eras and moods within the standards repertoire. Consider assigning individual standards as semester projects for jazz vocalists or as reference material for big band singers studying authentic interpretation. This folio also works well as a sight-reading source for jazz ensemble pianists developing fluency with classic changes.

• Reading lead sheet notation and interpreting chord symbols in jazz contexts
• Understanding harmonic movement and voice leading in Great American Songbook standards
• Phrasing and expressive control in jazz vocal performance
• Comping and reharmonization choices for pianists accompanying jazz singers
• Melodic interpretation and personal expression within structured harmonic frameworks