It Had to Be You: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

$42.00 USD

It Had to Be You: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

Name: It Had to Be You: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-24835
Price: 42.00 USD
Availability: InStock

Words by Gus Kahn, music by Isham Jones / arr. Mike Lewis

Grade: 1 (Easy)

Item: 00-24835

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Arranger Mike Lewis presents this moderate swing ballad featuring the 1st trumpet and the sax section. Easy ranges and easy rhythms will allow this tasty chart to come together quickly and effectively.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, It Had to Be You: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

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Series: First Year Charts for Jazz Ensemble

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 64

UPC: 038081270548

SKU: 00-24835

More about this title

About the Composer: Isham Jones

Isham Jones (1894-1956) was a bandleader, composer, and saxophonist who shaped the sound of American jazz and popular music in the 1920s and 1930s. His compositions became standards of the Great American Songbook, recorded by countless artists across generations. Jones understood how to write melodies that singers and instrumentalists loved to play, and his arrangements for big band helped define the swing era sound.

As a composer for music education, Jones remains relevant because his songs are built on clear harmonic structures and singable lines. They provide students with access to authentic jazz repertoire without requiring advanced reading skills or extreme range demands, making them ideal stepping stones into the jazz standard tradition.

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Why we love this

This arrangement cuts through the usual Grade 1 jazz repertoire clutter by centering the actual melody and letting the band support it cleanly. Lewis stripped away unnecessary complexity without losing the swagger that makes this standard worth playing; your ensemble will sound mature and intentional from the first read-through.

What to expect

A classic ballad with genuine warmth; the easy ranges and straightforward rhythms let the emotional content of the melody shine through. There's nothing artificial or patronizing about it, just a well-known tune arranged so your students can actually play it.

Who it's for

Jazz ensemble directors working with first-year or newly formed groups who need music that sounds polished without demanding advanced range or complex rhythmic reading. Educators looking for authentic standards that build student confidence while teaching the language of swing.

How to get the most out of it

Balance the 1st trumpet melody against the sax section so the lead voice sits slightly forward but never feels isolated. These sections work best when they're heard as equal partners rather than soloist and accompaniment.
Shape the swing eighth-note feel by having the rhythm section establish their pocket first in rehearsal. Once that foundation is locked, the horns will fall into the groove naturally.
Give the ballad rubato room to breathe. Grade 1 charts can sound mechanical, but this tune benefits from slight pushes and pulls within the phrases to capture the song's warmth.

How to use it

Program this early in the season as a confidence builder or place it alongside a faster chart to create a set that shows your ensemble's musical range. The familiar melody makes it an effective choice for pep assemblies or informal jazz performances where audiences respond to recognizable tunes.