Instrumental Solos by Special Arrangement: Trombone/Baritone/Bassoon Book & CD

Strommen understands what mid-level jazz soloists actually need: the sound and feel of authentic jazz without asking them to carry the weight of improvisation. Each arrangement gives the soloist a fully realized melody and supportive harmonic background, making it possible for competent concert musicians to sound genuinely swinging and confident in a jazz idiom they might not otherwise access.

Swinging through these eleven jazz standards feels like stepping into a classic American songbook. Each arrangement has the harmonic richness and rhythmic buoyancy of genuine jazz, complete with walking bass lines and syncopated comping, yet the soloist always knows exactly what notes belong.

This collection suits intermediate jazz soloists in grades 2-3 who want to perform recognizable standards with authentic swing feel and harmonic sophistication. It works equally well for band directors building a jazz solo recital program and for private instructors coaching students toward more stylistically informed playing.

• Treat the recorded accompaniment as your ensemble rehearsal partner; use it in sectionals to help soloists hear how their lines sit against the rhythm section and harmonies.
• Shape the melody phrasing with vocal inflection rather than mechanical precision. Jazz-style articulation and breath placement matter more than note-perfect accuracy.
• Balance the soloist's projection against the accompaniment track during final rehearsals. The recorded rhythm section sets the dynamic floor, but your player should ride slightly above it.
• Encourage soloists to listen actively to jazz recordings of these standards beforehand. Familiarity with how masters phrase these tunes will deepen musicianship beyond what notation alone can convey.

Feature individual soloists in a concert dedicated to American songbook standards, pairing this book with your jazz ensemble or small combo for an integrated performance. These arrangements also serve beautifully in jazz band contests where a soloist needs a strong vehicle with built-in backing support.

• Reading and executing jazz-style articulation and phrasing conventions
• Accompanying awareness; hearing the relationship between solo line and chord changes
• Swing feel and rhythmic placement in a jazz context
• Stylistic interpretation of familiar melodies without improvisation