Dr. Jeremy Fox is a wonderful, Grammy-nominated jazz/choral composer, arranger, and conductor. He has been on the faculty of Indiana University and Southwestern Community College (Iowa), where he will return this fall. He is brilliant, humble, and incredibly big-hearted.
He leads marvelous week-long summer camps, including the SMV Vocal Jazz Camps around the country, as well as The Jazz Harmony Retreat, a workshop designed for choral educators interested in expanding their knowledge of vocal jazz.
In that vein, it seems to me that Dr. Fox, while well-known in the vocal jazz world, is woefully under-appreciated in the choral world. He is currently published by UNC Jazz Press, Sound Music Publications, Alfred, and through his own website.
With that in mind, here are a few of his vocal works that would be suitable for performance by choral ensembles as well as vocal jazz groups. You can click the links above for full lists of his pieces; I’ve selected three for you to start with.
I Will (Lennon/McCartney)
Who doesn’t love this Beatles song? Jeremy has written this beautiful arrangement to feature a female soloist with beautiful background vocals and a fully-written piano part (perfect for a pianist not conversant in jazz). I’m totally in love with this arrangement since hearing it performed by several ensembles in March.
Amazing Grace (Gospel style – SSAA or SATB)
Fun, gospely, driving version of this classic song. Again, it’s fully notated for the jazz newbies, but features chords for more advanced players. Includes full rhythm section.
I’ll Be There (a cappella)
Jeremy’s a cappella writing is lush, harmonically fascinating, and features great voice-leading. A cappella jazz ballads are a great place to start, in my opinion, for a choir trying vocal jazz – you learn to hear the harmonies without anything else happening.
As I said, Jeremy has dozens and dozens of beautiful charts available – I highly recommend you check out all the samples on the websites for his publishers. I know he also takes commission work, and I can guarantee you won’t be disappointed with a custom arrangement from Jeremy Fox.