It’s my end-of-school-year tradition to publish the repertoire my ensemble sang over the year. With my sixth year at GRCC in the books, here are the pieces Shades of Blue learned and performed.
This is the first year in which the ensemble stayed intact across both semesters – same four vocalists, same instrumentalists (we added a new pianist second semester). So I’m listing all repertoire for the entire year, since we were able to hold over several pieces of repertoire for both semesters.
The year once again featured several premieres arranged by me [*].
Almost Like Being In Love – Alan Jay Lerner & Frederick Loewe, Arr. Darmon Meader [Hal Leonard]
Bourree – J.S. Bach, Arr. Ward Swingle [UNC Jazz Press]
* Castaways – Evan Lurie, Paul Smith, Leslie Valdes, & Douglas Weiselman, arr. Jed Scott [SMP]
The Christmas Song – Mel Tormé & Robert Wells, Arr. Gene Puerling [Hal Leonard]
* Fascinating Rhythm – George & Ira Gershwin, Arr. Jed Scott [Commissioned via Patreon]
Operator – William Spivery, Arr. Kirby Shaw [Hal Leonard]
The Shadow of Your Smile – Johnny Mandel & Paul Francis Webster, Arr. Gene Puerling [Alfred]
Shed a Little Light – James Taylor, arr. Greg Jasperse [Hal Leonard]
World On Our Shoulders – Robin Howl, Violet Skies, Holly Fletcher, arr. Emma Nilsdotter & Morten Vinther [Freely published]
Button Up Your Overcoat – B.G. DeSylva, Lew Brown, & Ray Henderson, Arr. Gene Puerling [Alfred]
As you can see, I focused on exposing a fantastic student quartet to works by the great quartet jazz groups of the past – The Singers Unlimited, Manhattan Transfer, New York Voices, The Hi-Lo’s, The Swingle Singers. (Okay, a double quartet, but 4-part nonetheless.)