Can variation be a liability in jazz arrangements?
I’m finishing an arrangement right now of a song with a repeated 8-bar chorus (5 or 6 times), each one essentially the same on the original recording.
My instinct as a jazz arranger was to vary each chorus – make them individual rather than repetitive. Vocal jazz arrangements rarely repeat sections wholesale. Part of that instinct is built into the very nature of jazz, which rests on improvisation and variation of the melody. Did Sarah Vaughan ever sing a melody the same way twice? And at least a small part of the motivation is because it’s a chance for us arrangers to show off: arranging is an under-appreciated art form, so we need to plant our flag once in a while, and writing distinct variations is one way to do it.
But in this case, and I would argue a large percentage of cases, the variation would be a liability to the arrangement. It would make it more difficult to learn, much easier to make mistakes in performance, and generally less accessible to performers. That’s why I decided in the end to make each chorus identical. With the extra repetitions, the arrangement will be a quicker learn, allowing my singers to really dig into performing it with gusto.