VOCAL JAZZ ARRANGEMENTS

BY JENNIFER BARNES

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING DISCLAIMER:

The vocal arrangements in my catalog listing are only available for purchase if you see "UNC Jazz Press" under the "Availability" column; those listed as "Manuscript" are "listenable" only, as examples of my work. I am working to get more of these published so that they WILL be available, but in the meantime, please go to my "contact" page and write to me if you have any further questions about this.

 

(Click on any underlined title to listen to an MP3 of that arrangement,
or the original recording upon which the arrangement is based.)

Title

Voicing/Setting

Style

Difficulty Level

Availability

Performed By

All Glory, Laud and Honor

SSATB

Lilting 5/4 setting with one verse set in traditional 4/4 chorale style

III

Manuscript

Discovery Singers, from "Hallelujah, What A Savior"

Christmas Waltz, The (long)
Christmas Waltz, The (short)

SATB or SSATBB (two separate versions)

Light and lilting jazz waltz

III (SATB);
IV (SSATBB)

Manuscript

Midi Demo

Christ The Lord Is Risen Today

SSAATTBB (double choir) with a male & female soloist

Bright, hope-filled mood in a thick choral style

IV

Manuscript

Discovery Singers (as above)

Crown Him With Many Crowns

SSATBB

Majestic and harmonically lush

V-

Manuscript

Discovery Singers (as above)

He's Got The Whole World In His Hands

SSATB (including female soloist)

Jazz (swing) feel w/ bass line and various backgrounds

III+

Manuscript

Word of Mouth

I've Got No Strings

SSATBB (also available w/ rh. section)

Alternating jazz waltz and swing feel, including soli section and "shout" chorus!

V

Manuscript

Bonnie Herman, Jennifer Barnes, Bob Bowker, Greg Jasperse

Kalimba

9 independent vocal parts; some doubling

Straight-8th  feel with a backbeat; various Latin-derived rhythms throughout

IV

UNC Jazz Press

Gold Company (Western Michigan University)

Merry Christmas, Darling

SATB

A la Karen Carpenter's original ballad recording

III

Manuscript

The Carpenters

My Jesus, I Love Thee

SSATTB

Beautiful, rich hymn setting

IV

Manuscript

Discovery Singers (as above)

My Romance

SSATB

Ensemble ballad with soloist

III

Manuscript

U. of Miami JV2

Nearness Of You, The

SSATBB

Ensemble ballad, lush harmonies

V

Manuscript

Chicago A Cappella

The Star-Spangled Banner

SATB

Interesting harmonies, solid voice-leading; modulation to ramp up to the ending!

IV-

Manuscript

Midi Demo

Title

Voicing/Setting

Style

Difficulty Level

Availability

Performed By

Art's Groove

SATB w/ rh. (also available for SSAA)

Bebop; blues with a bridge;  wordless vocal w/ great improv possibilities.

IV+

Manuscript

Steve Allee Quintet (composer); off the CD "New York in the Fifties"

Brazasia

SATB w/ rh., incl opt. perc., guitar and synth parts.

Medium-tempo Brazilian pop/jazz (original artist: Yutaka)

III+

Manuscript

Blue Skies

Confide In Me

SATB w/ male soloist(s) and rh. (synth or real organ and elec. Guitar desirable, but not essential)

Energetic, bluesy shuffle.   Features soloists with ensemble in primarily background role

III+

UNC Jazz Press

The Manhattan Transfer, from "Offbeat of Avenues"

Get Out Of Town

SATB w/ rh.

"Vibe" oriented funk groove w/ a cappella breakdown section.

IV-

Manuscript

USC Studio Vocal Jazz Ensemble

Gingerbread Boy

SATB w/ rh.

Swing;  straight-ahead wordless blues head chart.

II

UNC Jazz Press

Jimmy Heath

Gingerbread Boy

SSATBB w/ rh.

Salsa!   Still a wordless head chart, but with a complex a cappella soli section and thicker harmonies throughout.

IV

UNC Jazz Press

Gold Company

Hello

SSATBB w/ rh. (electric bass & keyboard preferred)

Pop/funk tune featuring female soloists and hot background vocal ensemble figures.

IV

UNC Jazz Press

Dianne Reeves (w/ Take 6)

I Could Write A Book

SATB w/ rh.

Swing feel w/ lengthy rubato vocal/piano duo intro.

II+

UNC Jazz Press

Midi Demo

I Don't Stand A Ghost Of A Chance With You (Chance With A Ghost)

SATB w/ rh.

Medium swing to half-time ballad.   Written soli style from a hip Meredith D'Ambrosio "improvention";  then ballad solo with dramatic ensemble finish.

V

Manuscript

Rush Hour (Roosevelt University CCPA)

I Love You

SATB w/ rh.

Bossa nova with lush harmonies and very challenging soli section.

IV+

Manuscript

Gold Company Sextet

I'm Old Fashioned

SATB w/ rh.

Bossa nova;  lush but accessible harmonies.   Short improv solos "trade" with ensemble phrases.

III

UNC Jazz Press

Take One (Niles North High School)

IÕve Got No Strings

SATB w/ rh.

Jazz waltz with swinging bridges!   Challenging soli section with a "shout" chorus.

V

Manuscript

The New Virginians (Virginia Polytechnic University

I've Never Been In Love Before

SATB w/ rh.

Straight-ahead medium swinger, half-chorus soli with lyrics.   Lots of fun!   (Also available as Level III minus the soli from me)

IV- (or III for version w/o soli)

UNC Jazz Press

Iowa All-State Jazz Choir (high school)

In The Still Of The Night/Night And Day (medley)

SATB w/ rh.

Bossa nova & ballad medley;  ideal for a choral group "pop" oriented program.

III

Manuscript

Midi Demo

Moment's Notice

SATB w/ rh.

Wordless bebop; improv vehicle

IV

UNC Jazz Press

Bobby Lewis (trumpet) w/ Jennifer Barnes Vocal Group

My Love For You

SATB w/ soloist and rh.

Gorgeous ballad (a cappella & accompanied)  with bossa nova soli section, returns to ballad.   Feature for alto soloist.

V

Manuscript

Gold Company w/ Jennifer Barnes (coming soon!)

The Offbeat Of Avenues

SATB w/ rh.

As perf. by Manhattan Transfer; synth. kbds. would strengthen it (parts included). 12/8 feel.

IV

Manuscript

Manhattan Transfer

Old Devil Moon

SATB w/ rh. (also SSA or SSAA Ð see that section!)

Alternating Latin/swing grooves;  very accessible part-writing AND easy vamp chord changes for improv.

III-

UNC Jazz Press

Jazzvox (Northern Illinois University)

Out Of Town

SSATTB w/ rh. (also SSAA Ð see that section)

Burning fast, wordless, very challenging modern bebop head, as recorded by the Yellowjackets.   Requires strong rh. section due to tempo.

V

UNC Jazz Press

Genesis (Mt. Hood Community College).  I also recommend the original recording: "Four Corners".

Ruby Baby

SSATB w/ rh.

Blues-based shuffle;  feature for pop/rock tenor soloist with hip background vocals.   Very similar to the original Donald Fagen version.

III

Manuscript

Donald Fagen

Sermonette

SAB w/ rh.

As performed by Lambert, Hendricks & Ross;  fun, gospel-inspired swinger.

II

Manuscript

Lambert, Hendricks & Ross

Stolen Moments

SSATBB w/ instrumental solo and rh. sec.

Straight-8^th feel;  trumpet feature (could adapt to any solo instrument) with lush background vocals throughout and some featured vocals.

IV

UNC Jazz Press

Bobby Lewis (trumpet) w/ Jennifer Barnes Vocal Group

Too Close For Comfort

SATB w/ rh.

Hard-swinging groove;  straight-ahead ensemble writing with brief soli section and male/female duet.

III+

Manuscript

Pennsylvania All-State Vocal Jazz Ensemble (coming soon!)

Watch What Happens

SATB w/ rh.; also available as SAB w/ rh.

Bossa nova & double-time samba feels alternating;  short and long versions available (w/ or without extended soli)

III

UNC Jazz Press

Jazz Incorporated (Hamilton High School)

Young And Foolish

SATB w/ rh.

Straight-8^th, modern feel; different kinds of vocal voicings and reharmonization give a neat flavor to this.

III+

UNC Jazz Press

USC Studio Vocal Jazz Ensemble

Title

Voicing/Setting

Style

Difficulty Level

Availability

Performed By

Everybody Wants To Be A Cat

3 parts w/ piano and opt. bass/drums

Swing feel;  lots of fun!  Written for Glen Ellyn Children's Chorus (Chicago, IL)

Moderate

Manuscript

(N/A)

I Love A Piano

(as above)

Swing feel;  terrific feature for strong pianist.

(as above)

Manuscript

Glen Ellyn Children's Chorus

The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

(as above)

Swing feel;  ideal for secular holiday program.

(as above)

Manuscript

Glen Ellyn Children's Chorus

Santa Claus Is CominÕ To Town

(as above)

(as above)

(as above)

Manuscript

Glen Ellyn Children's Chorus

Title

Voicing/Setting

Style

Difficulty Level

Availability

Performed By

Art's Groove

SSAA w/ rh. (also available as SATB Ð see that section)

Bebop; blues with a bridge;  wordless vocal w/ great improv possibilities.

IV+

Manuscript

Steve Allee Quintet (composer); off the CD "New York in the Fifties"

Green Dolphin Street

SSAA w/ rh.

Alternating bossa & swing feels;  balanced between unison, 2-pt. & some 4-pt. writing.  Written & improv solos.

III

UNC Jazz Press

Midi Demo

My Funny Valentine

SSAA w/ rh.

Feature for one or several soloists with bgvs and an a cappella rubato ensemble section.

III

UNC Jazz Press

USC Studio Vocal Jazz Ensemble

Ooh-Whee (The Carnival)

SSAA w/ rh. (incl. Percussion)

Brazilian-funk-pop tune as performed by Patti Austin.   Lead vocals for one or several vocalists.   Requires strong rhythm section.

IV

UNC Jazz Press

Patti Austin (original)

Out Of Town

SSAA w/ rh. (also SATB Ð see that section)

Burning fast, wordless, very challenging modern bebop head, as recorded by the Yellowjackets.   Requires strong rh. section due to tempo.

V

UNC Jazz Press

Yellowjackets (original)

The Touch Of Your Lips

SSAA w/ rh.

Swing feel;  balanced unison, 2 & 4-part writing;  1/2 chorus soli section.

IV

Manuscript

USC Studio Vocal Jazz Ensemble