Jazz Combo Pak #44 (Christmas): Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts
Arranged by Mark Taylor
Grade: 1.5
Item: 35-PK00396753
$50.00
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Description
Includes: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer; I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day; It Came Upon a Midnight Clear; O, Little Town of Bethlehem.
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00396753
More about this title
About the Arranger: Mark Taylor
Mark Taylor has established himself as one of the most prolific and respected arrangers in jazz education, with a catalog spanning decades of accessible yet musically substantial works. His arrangements consistently balance playability at lower levels with genuine jazz vocabulary, making him a trusted voice for directors building young ensemble programs.
Why we love this
Taylor's gift for reimagining familiar carols through a jazz lens keeps the repertoire both recognizable and genuinely swinging. At 1.5 grade level, these charts respect what young players can actually execute while refusing to sound simplified, which means your ensemble will sound better than they might expect themselves to sound.
What to expect
Warm, accessible, and genuinely swinging. These arrangements maintain the reflective quality of the original melodies while introducing walking bass lines, light comping, and graceful horn voicings that feel natural rather than imposed. The result is familiar music with a sophisticated jazz sensibility that doesn't alienate the listener.
Who it's for
Holiday programming that calls for jazz ensemble energy without the technical demands of advanced repertoire. A strong fit for beginning to early intermediate jazz groups looking to expand beyond straight ballads or up-tempo vehicles, or for mixed ensembles adding a jazz voice to seasonal concerts.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish the swing feel early in sectional rehearsals by having rhythm section lock in first; Taylor writes accessible walking bass and comping patterns that anchor the whole sound.
- Balance the melody against background voicings during the tutti sections; these carols deserve clarity in the line, but Taylor's harmonies will fill in the space beautifully if you let them breathe.
- Layer in articulation consistency across the saxophones and brass to unify the phrasing. Taylor's notation guides you, but ensemble tone will improve significantly when attacks match throughout.
How to use it
Front this collection in a winter concert that blends traditional and contemporary holiday music, or use individual selections as opener pieces that set an upbeat tone before deeper repertoire. The accessibility means you can begin rehearsals in September knowing you have reliable performance-ready material for December.
Skills your students will build
- Swing articulation and phrasing in a jazz idiom
- Reading chord symbols and responding to jazz accompaniment patterns
- Balancing within a small ensemble texture where individual voices carry weight
- Executing simple walking bass lines and basic jazz comping
- Maintaining melodic clarity over harmonic accompaniment