Zat You, Santa Claus?: SoundTrax Digital Audio Download

Relaxed and witty, with the swagger of a classic jazz number and holiday warmth underneath. The vocal lines dance around the rhythm section, and the whole piece has the personality of a mid-century jazz club reimagined as a holiday party.

Choirs looking for a modern, upbeat alternative to traditional Christmas fare. This arrangement serves intermediate to advanced ensembles comfortable with jazz vocabulary and the blend of precision and swing that the style demands.

• Balance the swing feel against clear articulation in the rhythm section parts; the groove depends on precision as much as pocket
• Use the recorded accompaniment to lock the ensemble into the jazz idiom, especially if your singers are more familiar with traditional Christmas repertoire
• Work the movement and staging in rehearsal early so singers can internalize both the rhythmic content and blocking without sacrificing ensemble sound

Program this as your Christmas concert's final number to send the audience out with joy and energy. It also works well as the opener to a holiday show that mixes secular and traditional repertoire, signaling the range of your ensemble's style.

• Swing rhythms and jazz articulation
• Blend and balance in a jazz ensemble texture
• Coordinate singing with staged movement
• Syncopation and syncopated entrances across parts