Jamey Aebersold Jazz, Volume 37: Sammy Nestico: Book & Online Audio

Nestico's voice cuts through the noise of generic play-along charts because every tune swings authentically without requiring a championship section to execute. The rhythm section here (Haerle, Coolman, Soph) plays with the kind of relaxed pocket that lets students hear what solid comping actually sounds like, turning this into a master class in big band style embedded in the play-along format.

These nine tunes move with the confidence of someone who has spent decades understanding how big bands work. Some charts drive forward with propulsive energy while others settle into grooves that reward careful listening and response, creating a collection that feels less like exercises and more like stepping into a conversation with a seasoned bandleader.

Intermediate to advanced jazz musicians in high school and college settings who want to build fluency with the most widely performed big band charts in the repertoire. Section leaders and soloists will find these tunes invaluable for woodshedding parts and developing jazz language in a professional context.

• Listen through the entire recorded version before playing your part; Nestico's arranging voice becomes clear only when you hear how the sections interlock and breathe together.
• Work your solo passages at half speed first, focusing on where Nestico sets up space for improvisation rather than rushing to fill every moment.
• Pay attention to how the rhythm section treats each chart differently; some tunes land in a straight-ahead pocket while others ask for a more layered approach to the groove.
• Use sectional rehearsal time to align your section's phrasing and articulation across the ensemble parts, since Nestico's writing reveals itself through precision in these details.

Use this volume strategically in your jazz curriculum to cover essential Nestico repertoire that students will encounter in college auditions and regional jazz festivals. The combo arrangements also offer flexibility for smaller ensembles or sectional work when full big band rehearsal time is limited.

• Reading and executing Nestico's signature voicing and harmonic language
• Comping and responding to sectional figures in real time
• Trading solos and developing phrases over swing changes
• Interpreting dynamics and articulation in ensemble contexts
• Understanding how melody, countermelody, and rhythm section work together in professional big band writing