Liza (All the Clouds'll Roll Away): Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

This chart captures the swagger and structural clarity that made Chick Webb's orchestra legendary. Van Alexander's arrangement spotlights the drums prominently throughout, giving young percussionists a rare full-ensemble feature that demands serious musicianship without being a novelty. It's the kind of chart that teaches ensemble listening by requiring the rhythm section to drive the whole band, not follow it.

Pure swing energy. The piece breathes like a bandstand performance, with the drums anchoring every moment and the horns answering each other in that call-and-response conversational style that defined the era. There's joy here, but also sophistication: this is a chart that respects both the players and the audience.

Grade 4 jazz ensembles with a solid drummer ready for a spotlight feature and an ensemble that can maintain crisp articulation through a full dance arrangement. Directors looking for repertoire that connects to swing era history while giving percussion meaningful work will find this invaluable.

• The drum solo needs a drummer secure enough to generate swing without rushing. The ensemble must sit solidly behind the beat to make the contrast clear.
• The brass fanfare opening sets the groove immediately; lock it in tight and let the audience know this is a swinging affair from measure one.
• The unison shout chorus is your moment to unify the whole ensemble. Phrase it with one voice, regardless of section.
• Balance the soloists during the opening sections so they can be heard over the full ensemble, especially if your rhythm section is driving hard.

Program this alongside other Jazz at Lincoln Center repertoire to build a cohesive set that shows students the standards that shaped American music. It works beautifully as a closer or as part of a concert celebrating the swing era; the energy propels a program forward and gives audiences a clear send-off.

• Swing articulation and phrasing in a big-band context
• Trading solos and listening to ensemble partners during improvisation-based sections
• Maintaining consistent groove while a featured soloist takes the foreground
• Reading and executing sectional unison shout figures with precision and style
• Balancing written parts with the needs of a rhythm section-driven arrangement