More Than You Know: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

Ryan Fraley's arrangement strips away any nostalgia and rebuilds this classic with genuine edge. The metal fusion DNA feels earned here, not gimmicky, and the Grade 3½ writing manages to sound sophisticated without sacrificing playability across a typical ensemble. Directors get a piece that energizes students while respecting the original's melodic strength.

A standard pulled forward into the present day, muscular and slightly off-kilter. The crunchy guitar textures and metal undertones create friction with the song's original smoothness, resulting in something that feels both familiar and startlingly contemporary. High-energy and playful without losing sophistication.

Jazz ensembles at the intermediate level who want to break out of repertoire comfort zones and tackle something with real personality. This works especially well for groups with strong rhythm sections and trumpet players who relish high-register work.

• Lock the rhythm section tight on the crunchy guitar riffs; those attack points define the whole energy of the piece
• Balance the high trumpet register (up to C6) carefully during ensemble passages so the horn section cuts through without fatigue
• Treat the optional double bass drum time as a textural choice, not a requirement; even a single kick drum with the right feel serves the arrangement
• Emphasize the unexpected harmonic turns and rhythmic quirks in rehearsal so students hear them as intentional voice-leading, not mistakes

Program this as a closer on a jazz concert or as the unexpected opener after a set of more traditional standards. Its energy and distinctiveness make it an excellent vehicle for showcasing ensemble personality, especially if your students have done solid work on fundamentals elsewhere in the program.

• Reading and executing syncopated rhythms with precision
• Balancing ensemble texture when high-register instruments carry the melody
• Responding to unconventional harmonic progressions and voice-leading
• Tuning and blending in fusion-style ensemble contexts
• Communicating musicality through stylistic contrast (smooth standards idiom vs. metal-influenced aggression)