Love Is Here To Stay: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

Rick Stitzel's arrangement captures the melody's inherent sophistication while keeping the ensemble parts accessible enough for Grade 2 players to execute with real musicality. The chart doesn't talk down to developing musicians; instead, it trusts them to shape a jazz standard that swings naturally and sounds polished from the opening chorus.

Sophisticated and warm. The tune carries a romantic ease that feels both timeless and conversational, moving gently through its changes without demanding flashy display. There's a quiet confidence in these eight bars of melody that invites the ensemble to listen to each other.

Jazz ensemble directors working with newer players who are ready for real repertoire but need charts that don't require virtuosic technique. Students at this level benefit from learning standards that have shaped jazz history, and this Gershwin classic rewards careful attention to phrasing and rhythm.

• Balance the melody line so it floats above the ensemble without overwhelming the harmonic backdrop. Grade 2 players often play safer when the lead voice feels supported rather than exposed.
• Lock the rhythm section into a clear swing feel early in rehearsal. Once the drums, bass, and piano establish a relaxed pulse, the horn sections fall into pocket much faster.
• Shape the dynamic arc across the full form. This melody doesn't need constant volume; letting it breathe between phrases reveals the lyrical beauty underneath the jazz groove.

Pair this with other Gershwin or standard-based arrangements to build a complete set exploring jazz composition across eras. It works beautifully as a concert opener or as a mid-set ballad moment that gives the audience a chance to settle into the groove of a straight-ahead jazz sound.

• Reading jazz chord changes and responding to harmonic movement
• Playing with swing articulation and phrasing appropriate to the style
• Blending within a big band voicing while maintaining individual voice clarity
• Listening to rhythm section players and locking into ensemble time
• Expressing lyrical content through instrumental interpretation