Robbie Williams: Swing When You're Winning: Alto Sax Book & CD

This book captures the infectious energy of a contemporary artist genuinely engaging with swing repertoire rather than merely covering it. The backing tracks let your alto saxophonists hear themselves in a full big band context, which transforms how they understand phrasing, dynamics, and groove in these arrangements. Programming it opens conversations about why standards remain relevant and gives students permission to explore jazz idioms without waiting until jazz band season.

Sleek and urbane, these arrangements channel the sophistication of mid-century swing with a contemporary edge. The writing sits comfortably in the alto's sweet spot while honoring the original orchestrations, creating a sound that feels both nostalgic and fresh. Playing along with these tracks pulls you into a real ensemble sound, complete with rhythm section and horn section energy that makes even a solo practice session feel like a performance.

Alto saxophonists in high school jazz ensembles, community bands, or private study who want accessible swing repertoire with professional backing support. This works well for intermediate players seeking to develop jazz vocabulary and phrasing without the complexity of more advanced bebop or modal jazz arrangements. It's equally valuable for students curious about the standards themselves, since the material draws directly from the greatest hits of Tin Pan Alley and the classic songbook.

• Listen through the backing tracks before rehearsing the written parts. The rhythmic pocket and articulation style of the horns will guide your interpretation and help your section land the swing feel authentically.
• Pay attention to the interplay between the alto sax line and the piano/guitar on these tracks. Notice when to sit back in the groove versus when to push forward for a phrase. The recording makes this relationship transparent.
• Work the dynamics carefully during solo sections. The backing track will expose any timidity in your tone or imprecision in your phrasing, so use those moments to build confidence in projection and expression.
• Mark your breaths and phrase endings in pencil early. These are vocal-influenced arrangements, and understanding where singers naturally breathe will help you make musical, intelligent decisions about your own phrasing.

Include selections from this album in a spring or fall concert themed around 'Great American Songbook' or 'Jazz Standards Reimagined,' or feature 2-3 soloists with the backing tracks as a lighter contrast to heavier concert repertoire. The material works beautifully in casual performance settings like coffee house concerts or community celebrations where swing music has natural appeal. You might also use individual tracks as listening and analysis assignments, pairing them with score study to develop students' ear for arrangement and interpretation.

• Swing rhythm and articulation (detached eighth notes, triplet feel, and the legit swing aesthetic)
• Phrasing and breathing patterns influenced by vocal tradition (sustaining through long lines, managing air, shaping phrases with intention)
• Listening for and responding to ensemble context (hearing piano comping, bass lines, and rhythm section groove while maintaining your own line)
• Jazz standards literacy and musical history (connecting contemporary artists to the classic repertoire and understanding why these songs endure)
• Solo confidence and expression (using the backing track as a secure foundation to explore dynamics, tone color, and interpretive choices)