Christmas Jazz Big Band Charts

All come with Full Scores and parts.

Bob Curnow Series

"Some time ago, I found a couple of Christmas CDs on the Dayspring Record label, recorded by a vocal group called First Call. All of the arranging was done by David Maddox, and I was "blown away" with the imaginative, modern, exciting writing. It is very reminiscent of the writing done by Gene Puerling for the Hi-Los and Singers Unlimited. With permission, I have taken two of those arrangements and adapted them for jazz ensemble instrumentation. They're fairly easy to play, and I've played them a lot with my band over the last couple of years. You can hear them both on our demo CD 108. I hope you enjoy them both." ...... Bob Curnow

First Noel, The - arr. Bob Curnow - SMP 807 - Grade 3-4 - $42.00
This arrangement moves through many variations of this most lovely of melodies. The music is somewhat "legit" in concept, not difficult to play, and it has a very hip, sophisticated, lush harmonic sound. Ideal for a different slant to your Christmas programming! 5-4-4-3 (on Demo CD 108)

Silent Night - arr. Bob Curnow - SMP 806 - Grade 3-4 - $42.00
This arrangement moves through many variations of this most lovely of melodies. The music is somewhat "legit" in concept, not difficult to play, and it has a very hip, sophisticated, lush harmonic sound. Ideal for a different slant to your Christmas programming! 5-4-4-3 (on Demo CD 108)

Stan Kenton Library

From Kenton's Merry Christmas recording!

As arranged for the Kenton Orchestra by Ralph Carmichael and Stan Kenton for the CD "Merry Christmas"

"Originally written for 4 trumpets, 4 mellophoniums (french horns), 4 trombones, tuba and various rhythm, we have also included optional 2 alto, 2 tenor, baritone saxophone parts as substitutes for the mellophonium parts. They work very well! For detailed descriptions, please go to the Stan Kenton Music page. This is CLASSIC Christmas Big Band Jazz." .... Bob Curnow

Adeste Fideles - arr. by Stan Kenton - Grade 4/5 -SMP 605 - $52.00

The 1961 Capitol Records recording of Christmas music was a smash hit for Kenton. It contained arrangements by Kenton and (mostly) Ralph Carmichael of traditional Christmas music. This particular arrangement is more traditional in scope, but it is filled with wonderful, lush harmonies and the Kenton style of arranging. The original arrangements were written for 4 trumpets, 4 mellophoniums, 4 trombones, tuba, keyboard, bass, drums and auxiliary percussion. These are the charts we sell, but we've also included saxophone parts which take the place of the mellophonium parts. They work quite well! From Kenton's "Merry Christmas" recording.

Angels We Have Heard On High - arr. by Ralph Carmichael - Grade 4/5 - SMP 604 - $52.00

The 1961 Capitol Records recording of Christmas music was a smash hit for Kenton. It contained arrangements by Kenton and (mostly) Ralph Carmichael of traditional Christmas music. This particular arrangement is one of the more traditional of the ten we have in print. It does have a "swinging" section, and it works very well! The original arrangements were written for 4 trumpets, 4 mellophoniums, 4 trombones, tuba, keyboard, bass, drums and auxiliary percussion. These are the charts we sell, but we've also included saxophone parts which take the place of the mellophonium parts. They work quite well! From Kenton's "Merry Christmas" recording.

Christmas Medley - arr. Stan Kenton - Grade 5 - SMP 580 - $59.00

As recorded by the Stan Kenton Orchestra on "Merry Christmas", this chart has optional saxophone parts which nicely cover the french horn parts (originally written for only brass and rhythm section). This completes the publication by Sierra of all of the charts on this album. The medley contains six carols. Instrumentation is 4 horns, 4 trpts. , 4 trombones, tuba, piano, bass, drums and opt. chimes. Solo for piano only. From Kenton's "Merry Christmas" recording.

God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen - arr. by Ralph Carmichael - Grade 4/5 - SMP 606 - $52.00

The 1961 Capitol Records recording of Christmas music was a smash hit for Kenton. It contained arrangements by Kenton and (mostly) Ralph Carmichael of traditional Christmas music. This particular arrangement is one of the "jazzier" ones on the album. It swings like crazy! The original arrangements were written for 4 trumpets, 4 mellophoniums, 4 trombones, tuba, keyboard, bass, drums and auxiliary percussion. These are the charts we sell, but we've also included saxophone parts which take the place of the mellophonium parts. They work quite well! From Kenton's "Merry Christmas" recording.

Good King Wenceslas - arr. by Ralph Carmichael - Grade 4/5 - SMP 639 - $52.00

The 1961 Capitol Records recording of Christmas music was a smash hit for Kenton. It contained arrangements by Kenton and (mostly) Ralph Carmichael of traditional Christmas music. This particular arrangement is one of the "jazzier" ones on the album. It swings like crazy! The original arrangements were written for 4 trumpets, 4 mellophoniums, 4 trombones, tuba, keyboard, bass, drums and auxiliary percussion. These are the charts we sell, but we've also included saxophone parts which take the place of the mellophonium parts. They work quite well! From Kenton's "Merry Christmas" recording.

Holly and the Ivy, The - arr. by Ralph Carmichael - Grade 4 - SMP 642 - $52.00

The 1961 Capitol Records recording of Christmas music was a smash hit for Kenton. It contained arrangements by Kenton and (mostly) Ralph Carmichael of traditional Christmas music. This particular arrangement is a great deal of fun to play. It moves through different keys, and it has a lot of interesting "variations" in it. A terrific chart! The original arrangements were written for 4 trumpets, 4 mellophoniums, 4 trombones, tuba, keyboard, bass, drums and auxiliary percussion. These are the charts we sell, but we've also included saxophone parts which take the place of the mellophonium parts. They work quite well! From Kenton's "Merry Christmas" recording.

O Holy Night - arr. by Ralph Carmichael - Grade 4/5 - SMP 607 - $52.00

The 1961 Capitol Records recording of Christmas music was a smash hit for Kenton. It contained arrangements by Kenton and (mostly) Ralph Carmichael of traditional Christmas music. This particular arrangement is more traditional in scope, but it is filled with wonderful, lush harmonies and the Kenton style of arranging. The original arrangements were written for 4 trumpets, 4 mellophoniums, 4 trombones, tuba, keyboard, bass, drums and auxiliary percussion. These are the charts we sell, but we've also included saxophone parts which take the place of the mellophonium parts. They work quite well! From Kenton's "Merry Christmas" recording.

O, Tannenbaum - arr. by Ralph Carmichael - Grade 4 - SMP 608 - $37.00

The 1961 Capitol Records recording of Christmas music was a smash hit for Kenton. It contained arrangements by Kenton and (mostly) Ralph Carmichael of traditional Christmas music. This particular arrangement is one of the simpler charts, but it is beautiful. Very playable! The original arrangements were written for 4 trumpets, 4 mellophoniums, 4 trombones, tuba, keyboard, bass, drums and auxiliary percussion. These are the charts we sell, but we've also included saxophone parts which take the place of the mellophonium parts. They work quite well! From Kenton's "Merry Christmas" recording.

Once In Royal David's City - arr. by Ralph Carmichael - Grade 4/5 - SMP 609 - $52.00

The 1961 Capitol Records recording of Christmas music was a smash hit for Kenton. It contained arrangements by Kenton and (mostly) Ralph Carmichael of traditional Christmas music. This particular arrangement is very much in the brass tradition, but it has very hip harmonies and lines. The original arrangements were written for 4 trumpets, 4 mellophoniums, 4 trombones, tuba, keyboard, bass, drums and auxiliary percussion. These are the charts we sell, but we've also included saxophone parts which take the place of the mellophonium parts. They work quite well! From Kenton's "Merry Christmas" recording.

Twelve Days of Christmas, The - arr. by Ralph Carmichael - Grade 4/5 - SMP 610 - $52.00

The 1961 Capitol Records recording of Christmas music was a smash hit for Kenton. It contained arrangements by Kenton and (mostly) Ralph Carmichael of traditional Christmas music. This particular arrangement is one of the more complex charts on the album. It goes through a series of meters and textures and ends up with a "no-holds-barred" swinging section at the end. A great chart! The original arrangements were written for 4 trumpets, 4 mellophoniums, 4 trombones, tuba, keyboard, bass, drums and auxiliary percussion. These are the charts we sell, but we've also included saxophone parts which take the place of the mellophonium parts. They work quite well! From Kenton's "Merry Christmas" recording.

We Three Kings - arr. by Ralph Carmichael - Grade 4/5 - SMP 611 - $52.00

The 1961 Capitol Records recording of Christmas music was a smash hit for Kenton. It contained arrangements by Kenton and (mostly) Ralph Carmichael of traditional Christmas music. This particular arrangement is one of the "jazzier" ones on the album. It swings like crazy! The original arrangements were written for 4 trumpets, 4 mellophoniums, 4 trombones, tuba, keyboard, bass, drums and auxiliary percussion. These are the charts we sell, but we've also included saxophone parts which take the place of the mellophonium parts. They work quite well! From Kenton's "Merry Christmas" recording.

Christmas Swings Series

"These charts, which were included on the "Christmas Swings" CD (now out of print) are so great that you just might want to schedule a Jazz Christmas concert just to play them for your audiences. Ted Wilson is a very successful composer who is based in Nashville, TN. His versions of these wonderful melodies are fresh and very contemporary. You can hear all four charts on our demo CD 106. I know you'll really like them." ....... Bob Curnow

Go, Tell It On the Mountain - arr. Ted Wilson - Grade 3-4 - SMP 804 - $42.00
A medium latin groove setting for a marvelous trombone solo on the melody. Room to improvise
for the soloist leads to a great, swinging "shout" section before returning to the latin feel and a beautiful, quiet ending. Flute doubles required on 3 saxophone parts (a,t,b). Full Score/parts for 5.4.4.4 instrumentation. (on Demo CD 106)

God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen - arr. Ted Wilson - Grade 3-4 - SMP 803 - $42.00
A loping, swinging version, featuring alto saxophone throughout. Your lead alto will love doing
this chart. Very playable for most bands. Reasonable ranges and great "shout" choruses make this
a very neat chart. Full Score/parts for 5.4.4.4 instrumentation. (on Demo CD 106)

Good King Wenceslas - arr. Ted Wilson - Grade 3-4 - SMP 801 - $42.00
A wonderfully fresh and inventive funk chart (Yup!). Ted Wilson's 4 Christmas charts are terrific
and VERY playable. Trumpet and trombone solo spaces are surrounded with exciting punch figures which really lift this piece to a new level. Very reasonable ranges. Full Score/parts for 5.4.4.4 instrumentation. (on Demo CD 106)

Silent Night - arr. Ted Wilson - Grade 3 - SMP 802 - $42.00
This is a very hip, slow, 3/4 version, with lush, warm voicings. You'll love the harmonic progressions! Tenor saxophone solo space builds to an exciting, emotional "shout" section. Again, very reasonable ranges throughout. Full Score/parts for 5.4.4.4 instrumentation. (on Demo CD 106)