Jazz Vocal Solos with Combo Accompaniment: Conductor Book

Wolpe's hand-picked selection of ten standards gives your jazz ensemble a cohesive, singable book without filler. The combo voicings keep the texture intimate while the arrangements have enough harmonic sophistication to hold an audience and challenge your players in equal measure.

These arrangements capture the warmth and sophistication of the American Songbook without pretension. The music swings naturally, allows singers to phrase expressively, and never feels crowded or overly complex, even as the harmonic language stays rich and rewarding.

Jazz directors seeking a vocalist-centered book with professional-quality arrangements and genuine teaching potential. This works equally well for community jazz ensembles, high school jazz choirs, or college combos that want to build jazz vocabulary through timeless repertoire.

• Balance the vocalist against the combo; the rhythm section should anchor without overwhelming, and horns should listen closely to how the voice shapes the melodic line.
• Let the pianist comp with intention during solos. These charts thrive when the accompaniment responds dynamically to what the soloist brings.
• Brush tempos through rehearsal before settling on final timings. Each standard carries its own character, and a tempo that sings in one tune may drag in another.

Create a dedicated jazz vocal concert featuring all ten selections, or select three or four to anchor a mixed jazz repertoire program. This book also serves as an excellent teaching text for studying how great standards can be reharmonized and reframed for different instrumental colors.

• Comping and accompaniment listening, particularly for pianists and rhythm section
• Jazz phrasing and lyrical improvisation within the context of American standards
• Harmonic analysis of reharmonized melodies
• Balancing ensemble blend when accompanying a featured soloist
• Interpretation of swing feel at varying tempos