Lullaby of Broadway: SSAA Vocals

Dave Wolpe's arrangement preserves the infectious swing of this Broadway standard while giving vocalists genuinely playable parts. The scoring for quartet or solo voice with a tight jazz ensemble gives your ensemble flexibility, and that brief tenor sax solo provides a natural showstopper moment without overwhelming the vocal line.

Bright and bustling, with the energy of a stage number and the relaxed swing of a jazz club. The arrangement has personality and lift without losing sight of the song's theatrical roots.

Jazz ensemble directors working with singers, whether you're fielding a vocal quartet, an all-women's group, or a soloist with band accompaniment. This works for intermediate ensembles comfortable with basic swing feel and for students ready to balance jazz ensemble playing with vocal performance.

• Balance the vocal line carefully against the rhythm section; the ensemble should support and swing behind the vocalist rather than compete. Check that your drummer locks in with the bass player to establish a comfortable groove before adding the horn section.
• Work the phrasing of the lyrics separate from the melody at first. Broadway diction and jazz timing often pull in different directions, so rehearse how you'll handle word stress within the swing rhythm.
• Give the tenor saxophonist breathing room during the solo. Mark out the exact bar count in the parts so the vocalist knows exactly when to re-enter, and consider spotlighting the transition back to the vocal with a clear conductor cue.

Pair this with other jazz standards to showcase your ensemble's vocal and instrumental range in a single program. It sits comfortably in a concert that mixes small-group jazz work with full ensemble charts, or feature it as a bridge piece between a purely instrumental set and a vocal-focused finale.

• Singing over a walking bass and swing rhythm
• Trading melodic phrases between voice and tenor saxophone
• Balancing vocal blend and diction within a jazz context
• Responding to ensemble swing and groove rather than a strict pulse