It Had to Be You (arr. Mark Taylor): Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts
Arranged by Mark Taylor
Grade: 3
Item: 35-PK00458162
$45.00
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Description
In classic Count Basie style, Mark Taylor's well-crafted arrangement of this familiar standard is set in a medium slow swing style and features the full ensemble perfectly scored to sound rich and full. In contrast, a short piano solo is interspersed that can be played as written or ad lib. Great change of pace for contest or festival.
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00458162
More about this title
About the Arranger: Mark Taylor
Mark Taylor is a prolific composer and arranger whose work dominates the jazz ensemble repertoire at the secondary and college levels. His arrangements consistently balance accessibility with musical sophistication, making them favorites among directors who need reliable, well-written music that sounds professional while remaining teachable.
Taylor's gift lies in understanding what works for ensemble voicing and how to craft parts that engage every section without overwhelming younger players. His arrangements of standards, in particular, serve as excellent models for how to honor a song's essential character while bringing fresh harmonic color and rhythmic energy to the ensemble sound.
Why we love this
Taylor nails the medium-slow swing pocket here, giving your ensemble room to breathe and really lock into the groove without racing the tempo. The full ensemble voicing feels substantial and rewarding to play, while that inserted piano solo provides a genuine contrast that resets the energy mid-chart and offers a soloist a chance to stretch.
What to expect
Sophisticated and smooth, anchored in the Basie tradition of ensemble swing. There's warmth in the voicing and a natural ease to the phrasing that lets the familiar melody shine while the arrangement adds subtle harmonic color underneath.
Who it's for
Grade 3 ensembles ready to explore swing style with a piece that doesn't demand virtuosity but does demand musicality and groove. This works perfectly for groups balancing jazz fundamentals with rock-solid ensemble discipline.
How to get the most out of it
- Keep the swing feel relaxed and grounded. This is a ballad swing, not an up-tempo burner, so encourage your rhythm section to sit just slightly behind the beat for that classic Basie feel.
- If your pianist takes the ad lib section, give them space to explore while maintaining a steady comping foundation from the rest of the rhythm section.
- Balance the ensemble writing so the full sound feels cohesive rather than cluttered. Dial back the dynamic level slightly and let the arrangement's rich voicings speak for themselves.
- Shape phrases with gentle dynamics to prevent the medium-slow tempo from feeling static. Small swells and pull-backs keep the melody line living and breathing.
How to use it
Pair this with another jazz standard or a blues head to create a jazz set that highlights different interpretive approaches within the genre. Its medium tempo makes it an ideal anchor piece between higher-energy charts and ballad features.
Skills your students will build
- Swing eighth-note phrasing and the feel behind the written note
- Listening for and maintaining a unified ensemble sound across sections
- Trading and supporting a solo pianist within an ensemble context
- Dynamic shaping and phrasing in a ballad swing style
- Recognizing and executing Basie-style harmonic voicing