Side By Side (arr. Tom Gentry): SATB Choral Octavo

Tom Gentry's arrangement cracks open the standard in ways that reward both ensemble singers and audiences. The jazz and barbershop inflections he brings add harmonic color and rhythmic snap without sacrificing the song's straightforward emotional core, making this particularly effective for choirs looking to program outside classical territory without abandoning musicality.

This arrangement brings the warmth of a 1930s living room into the concert hall. There's an almost conversational ease to the melody, paired with harmonic color that suggests late-night harmony sessions and genuine affection between singers sharing a song.

Directors building a secular concert that includes standards and popular material alongside more classical selections will find this accessible enough for mixed-ability ensembles while sophisticated enough to engage singers who sight-read well. Community choirs and school groups alike can execute this in a semester without extensive rehearsal time.

• Balance the melody line across the ensemble so the nostalgic quality of the tune stays visible; this song lives in the clarity of its shape, not in lush background textures.
• Attend to the jazz voicings Gentry includes. These extended harmonies need clean tuning and rhythmic precision to land effectively rather than muddy.
• Lean into the barbershop character selectively. If the arrangement includes locked block chords, those moments should feel cohesive and locked in rhythm, not approximated.

Position this as a palate-cleansing piece between heavier contemporary works or classical selections. Its familiar, genial character makes it an excellent closer for a concert aimed at community audiences, or a memorable inclusion in a program exploring American song traditions.

• Singing jazz voicings and extended harmonies with accurate tuning
• Navigating barbershop-influenced block chords and stylistic phrasing
• Balancing ensemble melody so the song's narrative clarity remains intact
• Adapting articulation and rhythmic precision to swing idioms within a choral setting