Oh, Lady Be Good!: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score

Terry White's arrangement captures the buoyant spirit of this Gershwin classic while grounding it in authentic bebop vocabulary. The written-out solos and sax soli give your ensemble structure without sacrificing that crucial jazz feel, making this an ideal Grade 3 entry point for groups learning to swing with conviction.

Bright, buoyant, and propulsive. The bebop influences give this Gershwin standard a forward momentum that feels contemporary while honoring its roots. There's a playfulness beneath the technical demands, inviting your ensemble to find joy in the swing.

Jazz ensembles at the intermediate level who are ready to tackle more sophisticated standard repertoire. This works for groups with committed soloists and a rhythm section that can lock into swing feel, as well as ensembles looking to build their jazz vocabulary beyond simplified charts.

• Establish the swing feel early in rehearsal by isolating the rhythm section; anchor the eighth-note articulation and let the brass respond to that pocket rather than driving over it.
• Work the alto 1 and trumpet 2 solos as written first. Once the ensemble locks the changes, encourage soloists to lean into their own interpretations during performances.
• Balance the sax soli carefully; these lines need clarity and presence without overpowering the ensemble behind them.
• Pay attention to lead trumpet range and comfort; the written A above the staff demands secure upper-register playing and consistent breath support throughout the chart.

Program this alongside other standards from the Great American Songbook to show how different arrangers approach the same material, or use it as a centerpiece in a jazz-focused concert that celebrates the 1920s-1940s songwriting tradition. It also works well as a showcase for your stronger soloists.

• Swing eighth-note feel and rhythmic precision in jazz idiom
• Sectional balance and blend within soli passages
• Reading and executing written-out jazz solos and comping changes
• Lead trumpet upper-register facility and intonation control
• Ensemble responsiveness to rhythm section pocket