Large Jazz Ensemble Music
There’s nothing better than a great piece of music whether you are a player, a writer or a listener! Here are some tune lists that I have compiled from my jazz friends who really know this music. If you find a number beside an entry, you will know that multiple experts have recommended a chart. Many of these masterpieces may be too difficult for school groups. That’s ok! Just listen, study and learn from our jazz masters! Play recordings of these works for your kids to provide inspiration and education! Enjoy! ~Milas
Kris Berg and the Metroplexity Big Band with Andy Timmons
Feature 1
Basie Style Swing Charts:
88 Basie Street Sammy Nestico
After Supper Neal Hefti
All of Me Quincy Jones arr. (2)
April in Paris Wild Bill Davis arr. (3)
Avenue C Buck Clayton
Back To The Apple Frank Foster
Basie Straight Ahead Sammy Nestico (8)
Blues in Hoss Flat Frank Foster arr. (2)
Corner Pocket Ernie Wilkins arr. (8)
Doggin’ Around Jimmy Mundy arr.
Easy Does It Jimmy Mundy arr.
Every Little Beat Helps Quincy Jones arr.
Fly Me To The Moon Quincy Jones arr. (2)
Fly Me to the Moon Sammy Nestico arr.
Freckle Face Sammy Nestico
Front Burner Sammy Nestico
Fun Time Sammy Nestico
Hay Burner Sammy Nestico (3)
In A Mellow Tone Frank Foster arr. (2)
Kansas City Suite Benny Carter
Li’l Darlin’ Neal Hefti (7)
Love for Sale Sammy Nestico
In A Mellow Tone Frank Foster arr. (2)
Moten Swing Ernie Wilkins arr. (10)
Moten Swing (The original by Eddie Durham)
Nasty Magnus Quincy Jones arr.
Nobody’s Perfect Sammy Nestico
Old Devil Moon Nelson Riddle arr?
One O’Clock Jump Ernie Wilkins
Orange Sherbert Sammy Nestico
Queen Bee Sammy Nestico (2)
Shiny Stockings Frank Foster (5)
Shirley Nestico "Try Sammy Nestico 'The Blues Machine'
Splanky Neal Hefti (10)
Switch In Time Sammy Nestico (3)
Teddy the Toad Neal Hefti
The Comeback Frank Foster
The Heat's On Sammy Nestico
The Legend Benny Carter
Told You So Bill Holman arr.
Warm Breeze Sammy Nestico
Wind Machine Sammy Nestico
Tim McMillen and Keith Oshiro with Kris Barg and the Metroplexity Big Band. That’s my horn in front!
Feature 2
BALLADS
(137 total suggestions)
A Child Is Born Thad Jones (5)
A Time for Love Sammy Nestico
Absolution Jim McNeely
After Hours Erskine Hawkins
After You’ve Gone Mark Taylor
Again and Again Benny Carter
All Heart Duke Ellington
All My Yesterday’s Thad Jones
American Ballad Toshiko Akioshi
Ana Luiza Claus Ogerman
Angel Eyes Four Freshman
Banquet Scene from “Timon of Athens” Duke Ellington
Basie So Young So Beautiful
Being Green Dave Barduhn
Blood Count Billy Strayhorn (4)
Body and Soul Marty Paich
Bourbon Street Jingling Jollies Duke Ellington
But Beautiful Lennie Niehaus
But Beautiful Rob McConnell
But Beautiful Stan Kenton
Central Park West John Fedchock (2)
Chelsea Bridge Duke Ellington
Chromatic Love Affair Duke Ellington
Dream of the Return Bob Curnow
Elegy Bob Brookmeyer
Emily Bill Holman - 2 suggestions
End of a Love Affair Lennie Niehaus
First Love Song Bob Brookmeyer
For No One In Particular Neal Finn
Gentle Piece Kenny Wheeler
Her Song Patrick Williams (2)
Here's That Rainy Day Dee Barton (10 suggestions)
Hey There George Stone
Hospital Blues Tom Kubis
I Remember Bird Oliver Nelson
I Stayed Too Long At The Fair Dave Barduhn
I'm Glad There Is You Jim Knapp -2 suggestions
I've Got The World On a String Bob Brookmeyer
I’m Getting Sentimental Over You Willie Maiden
If I Could See You Now Melba Liston
If I Should Lose You Mike Abene
In a Sentimental Mood Duke Ellington
Isfahan Duke Ellington/Strayhorn - 2 suggestions
Jamie Sammy Nestico
Kandi Matt Harris
Katy Sammy Nestico - 2 suggestions
Katy Do Benny Carter
Kids Are Pretty People Thad Jones
Laura Duke Ellington
Laura John Fedchock
Laura Stan Kenton
Laura Tom Kubis
Lifelong Friends Kris Berg
Lil Darling Neal Hefti (6)
Love Theme from Spartacus Maria Schneider (3)
Miss Ella Matt Catingub
Moonrise Ladd McIntosh
My Ideal Maria Schneider
My Old Flame Marty Paich
My One And Only Love Roger Meyers
Nicole Don Ellis
Pensive Miss Neal Hefti (2)
Prelude to a Kiss Duke Ellington (2)
Quietude Thad Jones (2)
Ruby My Dear John Fedchock.
Samantha Sammy Nestico (2)
Send in the Clowns Dave Barduhn (2 suggestions)
Sky Blue, Maria Schneider
Skylark Bob Brookmeyer (2)
Skylark Carlos Mata-Alvarez
Soft As Velvet Sammy Nestico
Sophisticated Lady Duke Ellington
Star Crossed Lovers Duke Ellington
Street of Dreams Stan Kenton
Sunset and the Mockingbird- Ellington/Strayhorn (2)
Tenderly Willie Maiden
Teri Gerald Wilson
Thank You Jerry Dodgion (2)
The Meaning of the Blues Bill Stapleton
The Peacocks Bill Holman
The Star-Crossed Lovers Ellington/ Strayhorn (2)
To You Thad Jones (9)
Too Little Time Sammy Nestico
Two As One Thad Jones
When I Fall In Love Alan Baylock
Where or When George Stone
Yesterdays Bill Holman (3)
You Go To My Head Frank Foster (2 suggestions)