Jazz Standards for Vocalists with Combo Accompaniment: Trumpet Book

Wolpe's writing for this collection sits in that sweet spot between sophistication and singability. The five-horn voicings give you real ensemble color without the overhead of a full big band, and his horn cues in the piano/conductor part mean your rhythm section knows exactly where the solo vocalist is at all times. These are standards that work in a recital, a jazz club setting, or a school concert without feeling watered down.

Sophisticated and swinging without pretense. These standards carry the elegance of classic American songwriting, and the combo voicings give them intimacy and warmth. The trumpet part sits in an expressive register where you can shape melody, blend into harmony, and complement a vocalist's interpretation without stepping on the lyrical moment.

Trumpeters performing with a jazz vocalist and small combo, whether in a school jazz ensemble, community big band, or professional jazz setting. This book works for intermediate to advanced players who read jazz notation fluently and can navigate ensemble voicing work.

• Balance the trumpet line against the other horns so it reads clearly but doesn't overwhelm the vocalist's phrasing. Wolpe has voiced these parts with intention; your voice here is part of the harmonic conversation, not just a lead voice.
• Lock in with the rhythm section during rhythmic unison passages. The drum and bass pocket is your foundation for any syncopated figures the trumpet carries.
• Watch the piano/conductor carefully during solo sections. Those horn cues aren't just for the pianist; they signal when the arrangement moves between instrumental and vocal sections, and your ensemble relies on that continuity.

Feature this collection in a jazz ensemble concert alongside big band charts to show the breadth of your program, or use it as part of a vocalist recital where a full rhythm section can really shine. The optional baritone sax part lets you adjust the orchestration to match what you have available, making it flexible for smaller ensembles or situations where you want to dial back the horn texture.

• Reading ensemble jazz voicings and understanding harmonic function within a combo texture
• Listening to and blending with other horns in tightly voiced unison and harmony passages
• Responding to a vocalist's phrasing and flexibility while maintaining rhythmic accuracy
• Interpreting jazz notation, syncopation, and articulation conventions
• Communicating with a rhythm section and following a piano/conductor's cues