Play Song: 4 Saxophones SATBar Conductor Score & Parts

Mays writes for saxophones with real understanding of their voice and range. This waltz time signature paired with a written soprano solo gives your group a chance to program something genuinely jazzy without sacrificing the ensemble work that makes a quartet feel cohesive.

Unhurried and conversational, with a gentle swing that feels more like a slow dance than a traditional waltz. The written soprano line carries the lyrical weight while the other voices provide harmonic color and gentle forward motion.

Intermediate to advanced saxophone quartets ready to add jazz repertoire to their recital programs. This works well for groups with a strong soprano player who can handle a featured role while staying connected to the ensemble.

• Balance the soprano solo so it sits comfortably over the supporting voices; the written line suggests lyrical phrasing rather than flashy display.
• Lock the rhythm section (tenor and baritone) into a conversational swing feel; waltz time in jazz works best when the foundation feels relaxed rather than metronomic.
• Use the conductor score to shape rubato and ensemble breathing; jazz waltzes benefit from flexibility in how the alto responds to the soprano's melodic contours.

Program this alongside classical chamber works to demonstrate the ensemble's range and versatility. It also functions well as an intermission piece or as part of a jazz-focused concert segment where the quartet can showcase both compositional craft and rhythmic sensitivity.

• Jazz articulation and phrasing in a waltz context
• Balancing a featured melodic line with ensemble support
• Swing feel in triple meter
• Harmonic listening and voice leading in a jazz idiom
• Reading and interpreting a conductor's cues for rhythmic flexibility