Take the Lead Plus: Jazz Standards: E-flat Instruments Book & CD

Smooth, swinging, and sophisticated. These eight standards have shaped jazz history, and the quartet arrangements preserve their elegance while keeping the harmonic language clear enough for young musicians to navigate. There's a touch of cool throughout; these tunes feel grown-up without demanding virtuosity.

E-flat brass players at the intermediate level who are ready to move beyond beginner jazz exercises into genuine jazz standards. This works well for school jazz bands, jazz combos, or mixed-instrument ensembles looking for accessible yet musically substantive material.

• Use the recorded backing tracks to internalize the swing feel and harmonic movement before drilling section rehearsals. The demonstrations show authentic phrasing that students can emulate without overthinking it.
• Lock in on the drums and bass line from the CD to develop steady time. Jazz requires precision with the rhythm section, and the accompaniment gives your players a stable foundation to build independence.
• Balance your quartet voicing so the lead line sits clearly without burying the harmony parts. In these arrangements, the inner voices carry harmonic weight that shouldn't disappear.
• Practice each part separately with the CD first, then combine voices gradually. This builds confidence and prevents players from getting lost in the texture.

Build a jazz unit or concert around these standards by assigning different titles to different quartets, so multiple groups perform simultaneously or in succession. The eight tunes also span tempos and moods, giving you variety if you're programming an entire jazz set from this single book.

• Swing articulation and phrasing in jazz idiom
• Reading and executing jazz chord symbols
• Listening to and balancing four-part ensemble texture
• Intonation adjustment in jazz voicings and extended harmonies
• Rhythmic independence while maintaining steady swing feel
• Interpretation of blues and jazz melodic conventions