The Lady Is A Tramp: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

Rick Stitzel's arrangement captures everything that makes this standard irresistible while keeping the ensemble writing accessible. The sectional pass-offs keep energy moving without demanding virtuosic soloists, and the option to have full sections cover the solos means you can perform this with confidence at any skill level.

The piece sparkles with the urbane confidence of 1930s New York sophistication, yet Stitzel's voicings and section writing feel modern and clean. You'll hear the famous swagger of the melody woven through different voices, with moments of warm ensemble texture that let the tune breathe.

Jazz ensembles at the high school level or developing adult groups looking for standards that work for learners without sacrificing musicianship. This is equally valuable for directors teaching their first jazz band and those deepening their students' knowledge of the American songbook.

• Lean into the swing feel from the downbeat. The melody's sass depends on forward motion and a relaxed pulse, not a metronomic beat.
• When the melody passes between sections, secure clean handoffs by rehearsing overlaps and cutoffs as specific moments, not general ideas.
• If your soloists are developing players, run the full-section solos first to build ensemble confidence before pulling out individual improvisation.
• Let the rhythm section lock in early. A solid groove underneath makes the sectional writing sit properly and gives soloists a stable foundation.

Position this as an accessible entry point into classic jazz repertoire, perhaps pairing it with other Rodgers and Hart standards or with contemporary jazz that shares its rhythmic ease. Its accessibility and familiar melody make it excellent programming for concerts where you want to showcase your ensemble to audiences less familiar with jazz.

• Swing articulation and phrasing
• Sectional balance and voice leading in jazz voicings
• Following a melody line that shifts between instrumental groups
• Trading solos or playing ensemble comping figures from written parts
• Responding to a steady groove and internalizing jazz time feel