Lisette: 2nd Trombone

Nestico's arrangement demands superior musicianship without resorting to extreme ranges or awkward passages. The modest brass voicings (trumpet capped at fourth space E) let your section players focus on tone quality and intonation rather than survival, while the unison saxophone writing creates visceral ensemble moments that reward your reed section's attention to blend. This is the kind of chart that makes a good ensemble sound excellent.

Lush and intimate, with the warmth of a classic big band ballad. The arrangement wraps around the soloist like soft lighting, allowing personal expression while the ensemble provides sophisticated harmonic cushion. This is music that breathes.

High school jazz ensembles with a capable saxophone section and solid fundamentals in intonation and blend. This chart rewards musicianship and serves ensembles ready to step into legitimate big band repertoire that sounds and feels professional without excessive technical demands.

• Balance the tenor or soprano saxophone solo against the supporting ensemble by controlling dynamics in the background voicings. The lush harmony can quickly overwhelm a soloist who isn't amplified or positioned forward.
• Lock the unison saxophone passages with precision tuning and identical articulation. These moments define the chart's character, so spend rehearsal time achieving uniformity across all three saxes.
• Shape the overall arc with dynamic control. Nestico's writing responds beautifully to subtle crescendos and releases, so avoid playing the indicated dynamics as static levels.
• Commit fully to the ballad's phrasing rather than rushing. The beauty of this arrangement lies in its space and breathing, not in forward motion.

Program this as a feature for your best tenor or soprano saxophonist at a concert focused on ballad traditions or as part of a set showcasing your ensemble's dynamic range. The 58-page score makes it substantial enough for a concert centerpiece, and its genuine musicality earns a standing with a discerning audience.

• Balancing solo and ensemble textures in big band contexts
• Playing unison passages with identical articulation and tone quality
• Reading and executing dynamic shadings that serve the musical phrase
• Intonation control in lush harmonic contexts
• Ballad phrasing and space management