The Man I Love (arr. Mark Taylor): Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts
By George Gershwin Ira Gershwin / Arranged by Mark Taylor
Grade: 4
Item: 35-PK00481634
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Description
Using a sensuously slow Basie style, Mark has crafted a distinctive setting of this Gershwin standard that features the entire ensemble. Lush brass scoring on the "A" theme is contrasted with the saxes on the bridge, followed by a solo for trumpet and ending with a stunning ensemble shout chorus.
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00481634
More about this title
About the Composer: George Gershwin Ira Gershwin
George Gershwin composed in a voice that bridged classical ambition and American popular song, creating works that refused to stay in one lane. His melodies became the soundtrack to the Jazz Age, and his gift for harmonic sophistication made popular tunes worthy of serious musicians. Ira Gershwin, his lyricist brother, had a gift for witty, conversational lyrics that sit naturally on Gershwin's melodies. Together they created songs that have endured because they work equally well in a concert hall or a jazz club.
Why we love this
Mark Taylor's arrangement respects the elegance of the tune while giving your ensemble room to breathe and shine. The scoring balances transparency with richness, letting students hear how each section contributes to the overall sound rather than burying them in thick voicings. The trumpet solo and ensemble shout chorus provide genuine moment-to-moment drama without requiring soloists to transcend their level.
What to expect
Sultry and unhurried. The Basie-influenced swing creates space for the melody to float, while the lush brass writing wraps around it like smoke. There's romantic confidence in this arrangement, a quality that invites careful listening rather than frantic energy.
Who it's for
Jazz ensembles working at the Grade 4 level who want a standard with real harmonic substance and section writing that teaches balance. Directors seeking repertoire that sounds sophisticated without requiring virtuoso soloists or unusual instrumentation.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the brass statement on the "A" theme with consistent vibrato and warmth; these players are singing a melody, not punctuating a rhythm section.
- Keep the sax bridge section intimate and conversational. Avoid the temptation to drive the tempo or add weight that isn't there.
- Give the trumpet soloist space to find phrasing that feels personal. This is not a high-note display piece; it's a declaration.
- The final shout chorus should build naturally from the solo rather than reset. Momentum earned by one section carries into the next.
How to use it
Anchor a standards-focused concert or use it as the centerpiece of a set that explores how American songbook material translates to big band. The sensuous pace makes it an effective closer on a program where it can sit in the audience's mind after everything else fades.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and executing Basie-style swing articulation and phrasing
- Balancing section melody with harmonic support
- Managing dynamics and tone in slow, lyrical contexts
- Responding to and supporting a featured soloist
- Understanding how arrangement and orchestration shape a familiar melody