Mean to Me: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

Ryan Fraley's arrangement captures everything that makes this standard so durable: a melody that sits naturally on every instrument, harmonic language that sounds authentic to the jazz tradition, and genuine flexibility that doesn't sacrifice musicality. Five players or fifteen, saxophone section or brass quintet, string orchestra or mixed combo, this chart genuinely works in any configuration, and that's rare. The transcribed solos plus easier alternative versions mean developing soloists can step up without fear.

Warm and conversational, with a melody that flows like natural speech. The rising sequences create forward momentum without demanding relentless energy, so there's room for swing, space, and genuine musicianship. It feels like a piece that's been played a thousand times because it works every time.

Directors who need a reliable jazz standard that works with whatever instrumentation walks through the door, whether that's a five-piece combo, a full ensemble, or an unusual mix of strings and winds. Jazz students learning to improvise benefit from the accessible chord changes and included solo transcriptions. Any ensemble seeking a chart that sounds professional while remaining playable at the 1½ level.

• Use the easier solo transcription first. Let students get comfortable with the form and comping changes before tackling Evan Drybread's more elaborate original solo.
• Lock down the piano voicings and bass line before adding melody. The notated comping is there to support younger players, so lean on it as a foundation.
• Keep the melody lyrical even in the faster passages. The rising sequences work because of their shape, not their speed.
• Experiment with different instrumental combinations in sectional rehearsals. The chart's flexibility becomes clear once players hear how it adapts to different voices.

This works beautifully as an opener or closer on a jazz concert, establishing the ensemble's grounding in the standard repertoire. It's equally at home in a casual, multi-group concert where you're showcasing different instrumentation combinations throughout the evening. Consider programming it after a classical or chamber piece to demonstrate how the same student musicians move fluidly between musical worlds.

• Swing feel and jazz articulation
• Reading chord changes and comping notation
• Improvisation over a simple, traditional jazz form
• Ensemble balance between written melody and rhythm section
• Transposing and reading parts written for different instruments
• Soloing strategies: transcription analysis and melodic development