Igor's Paradise: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score

Mike Lewis transforms a Romantic masterwork into an accessible swing vehicle that keeps the source melody's elegance while giving your entire brass section chances to shine. Grade 2 ranges and straightforward rhythms mean students focus on style and phrasing rather than wrestling with technical hurdles, and the written-out solos for all trumpets and trombones ensure no one sits idle during the solo section.

Sophisticated yet approachable. The Borodin melody carries its characteristic warmth and elegance, now wrapped in a relaxed swing groove that feels both contemporary and respectful of the original. Lyrical without being slow, rhythmically engaging without being chaotic.

Young jazz ensembles ready to move beyond unison charts into fuller instrumentation. Conductors will appreciate the modest ranges and clear harmonic support that let brass players succeed without advanced technique while still building jazz phrasing and style.

• Establish the swing eighth-note feel early in rehearsal. Play or sing the rhythm section groove so the whole ensemble hears the pocket before tackling the melody.
• Let the soloists know these are written parts, not improvisation opportunities. Encourage them to shape phrases with dynamics and articulation to make the written notes feel fresh.
• Balance the melody line against the ensemble. The tune should sing even when the harmony voices are full; avoid letting background parts bury the lead.

Program this as the centerpiece of a concert that balances jazz and classical traditions, or place it between a classical opening number and a bebop-style closer to show students the breadth of what jazz arranging can do with familiar material. It also works well as a spring concert standout that appeals to audiences beyond the typical jazz program listener.

• Swing eighth-note phrasing and articulation
• Reading jazz chord symbols and harmonic function
• Solo performance within a section (all trumpets and all trombones)
• Balancing melody and accompaniment in a jazz texture
• Interpreting masterwork melodies in contemporary idioms