The Nearness of You (Key: C): Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts
As performed by George Shearing / Arranged by Rick Stitzel
Grade: 3-4
Item: 35-PK00386030
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Description
This iconic jazz standard has remained a favorite for 80 years, and is arranged here for vocal soloist in a straight 8th ballad style. A brief trombone soli provides nice variety, and the full ensemble lends beautiful support throughout.
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00386030
More about this title
About the Artist: George Shearing
George Shearing was a British jazz pianist and composer whose sophisticated harmonic vocabulary and refined touch shaped the sound of 1950s jazz. His approach to voicing and arrangement influenced generations of musicians, and his compositions remain standards in the jazz repertoire.
Shearing's ability to write melodies that sing combined with harmonically inventive backings makes his work ideal for jazz education. His standards endure because they balance accessibility with musical depth, giving students something genuinely worth studying.
Why we love this
Rick Stitzel's arrangement respects the ballad's inherent beauty while giving your ensemble clear roles and space to breathe. The trombone soli break up what could feel static, and the straight 8th feel keeps the chart grounded in genuine jazz language rather than oversimplified swing patterns.
What to expect
Intimate and reflective, with the kind of harmonic sophistication that makes jazz singers' lives easier. The straight 8ths keep everything grounded, and the gentle swell of the full ensemble feels like a conversation deepening rather than building toward climax.
Who it's for
Jazz bands ready to program a vocal feature that demands musicianship without overwhelming technical demands. This works equally well for groups wanting a legitimate ballad in their concert or for ensembles building a vocalist-centered set.
How to get the most out of it
- Let the vocalist anchor the ballad feel. The ensemble's job is to support, not compete. Listen to how the rhythm section shapes rubato around the lyric, not ahead of it.
- Emphasize the distinction between the opening exposition and the trombone soli section. The shift in texture should feel like a natural turn in conversation, not a gear change.
- Balance the 'beautiful support' mentioned in the description by keeping harmonic voicings warm but not muddy. Clarity in the upper voices matters more than thickness.
- Build the full ensemble section gradually. Start by rehearsing just rhythm section and vocal, then add horns in layers so students hear what they're supporting.
How to use it
Place this in the second half of a concert after your more energetic charts have warmed up the room. The ballad's unhurried pace and emotional directness give audiences permission to settle in, making it an ideal transition before closing or intermission.
Skills your students will build
- Comping in a ballad context with space and restraint
- Reading straight 8th feel notation accurately
- Supporting a vocalist while maintaining ensemble blend
- Listening for harmonic movement in ii-V-I progressions
- Balancing solo and tutti sections within the same arrangement