It Had Better Be Tonight: Choral SoundPax

This arrangement captures everything that makes the Michael Bublé recording irresistible without requiring your choir to sound like a professional vocal group. The Latin rhythmic energy and sassy horn writing give singers something genuinely fun to perform, while the SoundPax format (with recorded accompaniment available) means you can rehearse and perform it even in a relatively compact jazz ensemble or pop choir setting.

Warm, sophisticated, and irresistibly groovy. The arrangement swings with the ease of a classic lounge number while the Latin percussion and horn punches inject real spark and playfulness. Your singers will feel the glamour of the Bublé version while enjoying the accessibility and fun that a well-crafted choral arrangement provides.

Jazz choirs, pop choirs, and show choirs looking for repertoire that balances entertainment value with genuine musicianship. It also works for advanced high school choral groups eager to explore Latin jazz idioms and work with a small horn section in a choral context.

• Lock the rhythmic pulse with your rhythm section from day one. The Latin clave pattern is the heartbeat of this arrangement, and when it's solid, the whole choir rides on top effortlessly.
• Shape the phrasing with the Bublé recording in mind. Listen to how he plays with the melody and uses silence for impact; your singers will connect more deeply to the style when they hear how the original interprets each phrase.
• Drill the saxophone and trumpet parts alongside the vocal lines. These instruments carry crucial rhythmic figures that anchor the arrangement, so they need rehearsal time equal to what you give the choir.
• Build intensity gradually through the arrangement. This piece lives in the space between smooth sophistication and explosive fun; resist the urge to go full energy from measure one.

Program this as a showcase moment in a concert that mixes traditional choral repertoire with popular material. It pairs particularly well with other jazz or Latin-influenced pieces and gives your instrumentalists a featured role that acknowledges their contributions to the choral sound. The style and energy also make it an excellent closer for a pop or jazz-focused concert.

• Latin rhythm reading and performance (clave patterns, syncopation)
• Singing with a jazz/swing interpretation (phrasing, articulation, rhythmic precision)
• Ensemble blend with horn players (balancing voices and instruments in a mixed texture)
• Harmonic awareness in contemporary pop and jazz styles
• Following and responding to rhythmic accompaniment and pulse