Jazz Philharmonic: Second Set: Digital Audio Download

This collection captures the distinctive appeal of Phillips's pedagogical approach: accessible jazz arranging that actually sounds like jazz, with writing that lets string students feel the idiom rather than simply reading notes. The recorded accompaniments free your rehearsal time and give students the satisfaction of playing alongside professional musicianship, making jazz a tangible and rewarding part of your repertoire rotation.

Energetic and sophisticated without pretension. These arrangements capture the swing and blues-inflected harmonies of jazz while maintaining the textural clarity that comes from writing for orchestral strings. There's a real sense of ensemble conversation and rhythm section support.

String orchestras (middle school through early high school) seeking to expand beyond classical repertoire into jazz styles without sacrificing musicianship or ensemble refinement. This collection works equally well for programs already exploring eclectic styles and those making their first foray into jazz.

• Listen through the full accompaniment tracks before rehearsal to absorb the jazz vocabulary and phrasing nuances your students will need to match.
• Break swing rhythm into layered parts; establish the pulse first, then add the articulation and lift that gives jazz its character.
• Draw attention to balance in the context of jazz texture, where melody lines often need to sit inside the ensemble rather than dominating it.

Jazz Philharmonic belongs in spring concert programming or as a feature in a pops or family concert, where it provides welcome contrast to classical works. It also serves as an excellent bridge repertoire for students preparing to enter jazz band, building their understanding of the idiom's rhythmic and harmonic language within their familiar orchestral setting.

• Swing articulation and jazz rhythmic phrasing
• Playing with a legit jazz ensemble sound (looser attack and vibrato control than classical style)
• Blues-based harmonic listening and intonation adjustment
• Responding to rhythm section accompaniment and following ensemble texture changes