Nancy (With The Laughing Face): Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

Mike Tomaro's samba interpretation transforms a ballad into something with real forward motion and elegance without sacrificing the melody's essential character. At Grade 4, the orchestration sits in that perfect zone where the writing is sophisticated enough to engage serious musicians but remains accessible to developing ensembles. The blend of lush harmony with a relaxed groove creates a piece that sounds both refined and genuinely fun to perform.

Sophisticated and warm. There's elegance in the samba groove, a sense of refinement in how the harmonies unfold, and genuine charm in the familiar melody. It feels like a ballroom that's learned to relax, where formality melts into ease without losing its dignity.

Jazz ensembles working at the Grade 4 level who want to expand beyond uptempo swingers and blues changes into the American songbook. Directors looking for a piece that develops musicianship and voicing sensitivity while keeping rehearsals energized. Students ready to explore how a single melody can support multiple moods and styles.

• Keep the samba rhythm light and buoyant rather than driving hard. The relaxed quality hinges on the rhythm section feeling comfortable and unhurried, not pushing the tempo.
• Balance the melody against the harmonic background so the beautiful tune cuts through without requiring the lead voice to force volume. Let the orchestration do the work.
• Shape the phrase endings with breath and space rather than pressing into them. A ballad's DNA still runs through this arrangement, so resist the impulse to chop up the phrasing just because there's a samba feel underneath.
• Work the ensemble's blend in the sustained harmonic passages. This is where the "lush" quality either lands or falls flat, and it requires everyone listening across the section.

This works beautifully as a program closer or as a bridge between a high-energy first half and something more introspective. Pair it with other standards to show how jazz arrangers reshape familiar material, or use it as a showcase piece late in the year when your ensemble has the polish to honor both the melody and the groove. It also serves as an excellent vehicle for introducing students to samba rhythms and Brazilian percussion concepts within a fully accessible harmonic context.

• Samba rhythm feel and forward motion without rushing tempo
• Balancing melody with harmonic orchestration across sections
• Sustain and blend in four-part jazz voicings
• Phrasing with space and intention across longer melodic lines
• Reading and performing sectional backgrounds that support rather than overpower a featured melody