Today’s featured piece: Straighten Up & Fly Right (Nat “King” Cole)
Instrumentation SATB + big band or rhythm section
Difficulty Level Moderately Challenging
Who It’s Good For Medium-advanced high school or collegiate vocal jazz ensemble.
Where to Purchase Buy it from UNC Jazz Press or via your sheet music dealer.
What’s the Story? I wrote this piece for my jazz arranging class at WMU. The assignment was for a big band arrangement, but I decided to write it for big band and SATB vocals, because I knew that vocal arrangements were my passion. It is my top seller year after year; there’s a real need for more accessible vocal group + big band arrangements. I’ve also published it for SATB & rhythm section and SATB & studio orchestra (strings, mixed winds) – the version I wrote for Peter Nero and the Philly Pops.
Can I Hear It? Yes! This is a version I recorded at the University of Miami with some jazz voice major friends looking for some extra recording studio experience.