St. Louis Blues: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

$52.00 USD

St. Louis Blues: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

Name: St. Louis Blues: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-JEM03018
Price: 52.00 USD
Availability: OutOfStock

Words and music by W. C. Handy / arr. John Denton

Grade: 3 (Medium)

Item: 00-JEM03018

Need it now?

Buy Digital Version

$52.00

Shipped

One moment…

Here is a must-have jazz classic that has been performed by virtually every jazz artist from composer W.C. Handy and Glenn Miller to Herbie Hancock. That's because it is a clever and interesting tune - going from major to minor then back to major all the while keeping the blues form. Arranger John Denton creatively sets the groove as a swing shuffle right from the first note and it continues to build. Solo space for tenor sax along with the flexibility of optional parts makes this a winner.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, St. Louis Blues: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

Open in the Player

Jump straight in and assign it today.

Start Your Free Trial

Open this title and explore the full library in minutes.

No sample videos found.

Series: Jazz Band Series

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 98

ISBN10: 0-7579-3424-2

ISBN13: 978-0-7579-3424-7

UPC: 654979054597

SKU: 00-JEM03018

More about this title

About the Composer: W. C. Handy

W. C. Handy (1873-1958) earned the title "Father of the Blues" by transforming folk blues traditions into composed, publishable music during the early 20th century. His formal training in music theory combined with his deep knowledge of Southern blues idioms allowed him to create works that honored the genre's roots while making it accessible to concert halls and dance bands alike.

Handy's compositions, including "St. Louis Blues," "Beale Street Blues," and "Memphis Blues," became foundational standards in jazz and popular music. His ability to blend blues harmony with structured melodic writing made his pieces enduring vehicles for improvisation and reinterpretation across generations of musicians.

Show moreShow less

Why we love this

Denton's arrangement captures everything that makes this tune perennial: the harmonic twist from major to minor keeps players engaged, while the shuffle groove sits comfortably in the pocket from measure one. The built-in solo space for tenor sax gives your section players a chance to stretch, and the optional parts mean you can perform this whether your ensemble is at full strength or not.

What to expect

Warm, sophisticated, and grounded in blues feeling from the opening notes. The piece swings with a relaxed confidence, moving through harmonic colors that feel both familiar and subtly surprising. There's a timeless quality here that speaks across decades of jazz history.

Who it's for

Jazz ensemble directors working at the Grade 3 level who want a standard that sounds like the real thing without overwhelming less experienced players. Saxophonists benefit from the solo opportunity, and your full band gets hands-on experience with blues form, swing rhythm, and the harmonic language that defines jazz.

How to get the most out of it

Establish the shuffle feel early in rehearsals by isolating the rhythm section; the groove needs to lock before the melody sits properly on top of it.
Work the major-to-minor modulation as a distinct harmonic moment, not a smooth transition. The color shift is intentional and should feel deliberate.
Give your tenor sax soloist time to prepare. The solo space needs space to breathe, so avoid rushing the changes underneath.
Balance the build throughout the piece carefully; there's a natural arc of intensity, so resist the temptation to peak too early.

How to use it

Include this in a jazz concert focused on standards and foundational repertoire, or pair it with other Handy compositions to explore the composer's influence on the genre. It works equally well as a feature piece or as part of a longer set that traces the evolution of blues in jazz.