Something's Gotta Give: String Bass: Choral SoundPax
Words and music by Johnny Mercer / arr. Jay Althouse
Item: 00-PC-0014314_SB
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Description
Celebrate the 100th anniversary in 2009 of the birth of the great American songwriter, Johnny Mercer, with this tight, swingin' arrangement. Appealing to vocal jazz as well as concert choirs. Irresistible! SoundPax includes a. sax., t. sax., tpt., tbn., rhy.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Pop Choral Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
28
SKU:
00-PC-0014314_SB
Instrumentation:
SoundPax
More about this title
About the Composer: Johnny Mercer
Johnny Mercer (1909-1976) stands among the most prolific lyricists in American popular music, crafting words for standards that defined the Great American Songbook. Though often remembered for his partnership with composers like Henry Mancini and Harold Arlen, Mercer also wrote melodies and complete songs, demonstrating a gift for conversational wit and singable phrases that work equally well in jazz clubs and concert halls.
Mercer's output shaped the sound of American music across radio, film, and stage for nearly fifty years. His ability to write lyrics that feel both sophisticated and approachable made his songs natural fits for choral arrangement, and this arrangement celebrates his enduring influence on American musical culture.
Why we love this
Jay Althouse's arrangement captures the essential swagger of this Mercer standard while keeping the harmonic language accessible and the vocal lines singable. The SoundPax instrumentation (saxes, trumpet, trombone, and rhythm section) gives choirs an authentic jazz small-group sound without requiring a full big band, making it genuinely playable in real rehearsal contexts. The arrangement swings hard while letting the melody and lyrics stay front and center.
What to expect
Sophisticated and fun in equal measure. The arrangement breathes with the relaxed confidence of a 1950s jazz club, where a great melody and clever words were all you needed to move an audience. It's uptempo and energetic without ever losing its melodic grace or the charm of Mercer's storytelling.
Who it's for
Choirs seeking authentic jazz repertoire that doesn't require singers to have formal jazz training. High school and adult choirs, vocal jazz ensembles, and concert choirs looking to program one swinging standard alongside more traditional classical or contemporary work will find this both musically rewarding and achievable.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the phrase with jazz phrasing in mind; treat eighth notes with slight swing and allow the rhythm section (especially the drums and bass in the recorded accompaniment) to anchor the groove rather than fighting against it.
- Balance the vocal blend carefully when the brass enters. These parts support rather than overpower the choir, so keep the ensemble tone warm and cohesive in the middle range.
- Listen to classic jazz vocal recordings of this standard before rehearsal so singers understand the rhythmic flexibility and conversational delivery that makes Mercer's lyrics shine.
- Work the consonant clarity in the text; the wit of Mercer's lyrics depends on clean articulation, especially at faster tempos and during the more rhythmically active passages.
How to use it
Pair this with another Mercer standard or place it mid-concert as a palate cleanser that shifts the mood toward contemporary repertoire or jazz-inflected choral works. It works particularly well on programs celebrating American songwriting, Golden Age musicals, or the history of jazz in popular song, and it gives audiences a familiar reference point while showing off your ensemble's versatility.
Skills your students will build
- Jazz phrasing and swing feel (eighths, triplet feel, rhythmic flexibility)
- Balancing choir with small-group jazz instrumentation
- Interpretation of conversational lyrics and comedic timing
- Reading chord symbols and understanding jazz harmony in a choral context
- Ensemble blend and intonation in popular song idiom