SLEIGHIN’ IT and More Holiday Arrangements for Jazz Band Tuesday, November 07, 2023
recommended by Eric Stratton, Jazz Specialist
Sleighin’ It arr. Steve Parsons, Grade 2
The talented composer Steve Parsons has paired an original melody with a funky Motown version of “Jingle Bells” to create the piece he calls “Sleighin’ It.” This is definitely a fresh take on this carol and your band will have a terrific time with the Motown groove and all the clever ways Steve has incorporated the simple “Jingle Bells” melody.
A Christmas Mambo arr. Tim Waters, Medium Easy
This cool mambo version of the Christmas classic “We Three Kings” will add some heat and a nice change of styles to your next holiday concert! This chart opens with an infectious mambo groove that keeps building before the melody is passed from the saxes to the bones and then the trumpet section. The solo section includes written or ad-lib solos for Alto Sax, Tenor Sax, Trumpet or Trombone. Next there is a cool shout chorus before returning to the opening theme.
A Little Christmas Spirit arr. Doug Beach & George Shutack, Grade 1
Bring the holidays on in a Latin fashion with this medley of three Christmas classics. “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen,” “O Christmas Tree,” and “Jingle Bells” are all arranged over a strong Bossa Nova groove. Great tunes, solid voicings and space for your soloists all add up to a medley that will be the hit of your holiday program. And the flexible Jazz Foundations scoring guarantees that virtually any combination of instruments will work.
I Saw Three Ships arr. Kris Berg, Grade 3.5
“I Saw Three Ships” is not only an absolute perfect chart for your December concerts, but it’s so much fun to play that you should program it anytime! This 17th century English carol takes on a whole new life reset in a New Orleans second-line style groove. There’s plenty of ensemble work for each section and solo space in the middle for your lead alto and lead trombone. Don’t miss a chance to jam out on this one! Great fun!
This Christmas arr. Mark Taylor, Grade 3-4
Recorded by Donny Hathaway in 1970 and covered countless times since then, this familiar tune features a funky, upbeat pop style and memorable horn riffs. Scored for vocal soloist with band, this is the perfect change of pace for the holidays.
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About the Author:
Eric Stratton is the Jazz Specialist at Stanton’s Sheet Music. From Westerville, OH, Eric received a Bachelor of Music in Classical Bass Performance and a Bachelor of Arts in Jazz Studies from Otterbein University. On both electric and double bass, he plays in various groups around Columbus, including New Albany Symphony and Westerville Symphony orchestras. He enjoys listening to and playing many types of music, from jazz, pop, to rock and metal. Some of Eric’s favorite performance opportunities are in the pit orchestras of musical theatre productions. When Eric isn’t gigging or at Stanton’s, he enjoys playing video games, hanging out with his cats, performing repair and tech work on guitars, and going to local restaurants and breweries with friends.