'S Wonderful: Vocal Solo with Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

Dave Wolpe's arrangement captures the sophisticated swing feel that makes 'S Wonderful timeless while giving your vocalist two carefully crafted keys for genuine accessibility. The written-out tenor sax solo adds personality and structure, and the substitute part allows ensemble flexibility when a vocalist isn't available. This is a chart that works equally well as a showcase feature and as a musical centerpiece that respects both the standard's history and your ensemble's capabilities.

Warm, sophisticated, and inherently charming. The melody sits naturally in the voice, supported by harmonies that feel both classic and alive. This is a number that swings with ease rather than effort, letting the ensemble and vocalist settle into the groove together.

Jazz ensemble directors looking for a vocal feature that teaches swing phrasing and ensemble balance to players and vocalist alike. Singers with solid jazz intonation and phrasing who can deliver a standards-era tune with style and ease.

• Balance the vocal line clearly against the ensemble without drowning it out; the rhythm section should lock solidly while the horns provide harmonic support rather than competition.
• The tenor sax solo deserves careful rehearsal time. Work the section to achieve the relaxed swing feel rather than rushing the line, and coordinate dynamics with the rhythm section to keep the groove grounded.
• Nail the articulation and phrasing in the ensemble sections to capture the era's jazz vocabulary. Crisp but not choppy, swung but not exaggerated.
• Choose your key strategically during auditions. Both ranges lie comfortably for voices that fit each key, so match the vocalist to the arrangement rather than expecting them to stretch.

Use this as a concert highlight that broadens your audience's sense of jazz repertoire beyond fusion or bebop. It works especially well in a program that pairs standards with original compositions, or as the centerpiece of a set exploring jazz vocal arrangements from the swing era.

• Singing and playing swing articulation and phrasing
• Balancing ensemble texture when a soloist is featured
• Reading and executing written solo passages with style
• Listening to and supporting a vocal line within an ensemble context
• Understanding voice leading and harmony in jazz standards