The Best of Big and Easy, Volume 2: B-flat Clarinet Book

This collection solves a fundamental programming need: you get 15 recognizable tunes in one book, all playable at Grade 2, all supported by a full rhythm section setup that requires minimal preparation. Story's arrangements sit comfortably on the instrument without awkward registers or excessive technical demands, which means your clarinets can focus on locking into the groove rather than wrestling with the notation.

You'll encounter a satisfying mix of blues grooves, swing-inflected pop standards, and funk numbers that feel current and energetic. The arrangements have a friendly, approachable quality that invites students to play with style and feel rather than just read notes.

Clarinets in Grade 2 ensembles and developing marching programs looking to expand beyond classical or march repertoire. This book works equally well in concert band, pep band, or marching contexts where rhythm section support is available.

• Lock in with the bass line during the opening of each tune; clarinet often carries the melody, but the pocket depends on rhythmic clarity between all parts
• Listen through the keyboard/synthesizer arrangement before rehearsal to internalize the harmonic framework and chord changes that anchor each chart
• Balance the articulation style within sections; these arrangements sit comfortably with a legato approach to jazz and blues ballads, but require lighter tonguing for uptempo funk and pop charts
• Mark your phrasing boundaries early; many of these tunes have call-and-response moments or solo trade-offs that need clear ensemble awareness

Program individual selections as opener or closer concert pieces alongside your classical repertoire, or use several charts from this book in a single pop/jazz-themed concert set. The variety of tempos and moods makes it easy to sequence a balanced program without hunting through multiple publications.

• Reading syncopated rhythms in pop and jazz idioms
• Maintaining consistent phrasing over chord changes
• Listening to and locking with a rhythm section
• Adapting articulation and tone to different musical styles
• Playing with swing feel and rhythmic independence