Jazz Vocal Solos with Combo Accompaniment: Guitar Book

Wolpe's arrangements honor the essential character of these standards without overcomplicating the guitarist's role. The guitar parts sit naturally within the jazz idiom, balancing supporting harmony work with moments where the instrument can breathe and respond to the vocalist. This collection works because it trusts both the guitar and the singer to carry the music.

Warm, conversational, and lived-in. These ten standards carry the elegance of the mid-20th century without feeling precious or stiff. The music invites intimacy between the guitar and voice, whether in the slow vulnerability of Summertime or the playful independence of The Lady Is a Tramp.

Intermediate-plus guitarists in a jazz combo setting who want to deepen their understanding of the Great American Songbook. This collection serves vocalists taking on classic material, as well as guitarists aiming to move beyond basic chord-melody playing into responsive, sensitive accompaniment.

• Listen to classic vocal recordings of these standards before the first rehearsal; the phrasing and rubato the singer learns will inform how you voice chords and interpret the harmony.
• Nail the rhythmic pocket early, especially in up-tempo tunes like Nice Work If You Can Get It. Once the guitarist locks in, the singer has the freedom to play with the melody.
• Watch for dynamics in the original charts. Wolpe often writes quiet passages that let the vocal line float; resist the urge to fill space with extra comping.
• When the vocalist takes liberties with timing, follow their breath rather than the written note values. These songs were built for flexibility.

Feature this collection in a jazz showcase or cabaret-style concert where a vocalist and small combo can shine. Individual selections also work as interpolations into a larger jazz program, or as a semester-long study in ensemble listening and response for a guitar ensemble class.

• Responsive comping that follows vocal phrasing rather than strict time
• Chord voicing choices appropriate to each song's harmonic language
• Balance between harmonic support and maintaining forward motion
• Interpreting rubato and swing feel across different song tempos
• Listening and communication between instrumentalists in a small ensemble