Jazz Ensemble Ballads

Composed in 1939, this popular standard features an amazingly tuneful melody and lush chords. Perfectly suited to the little big band format, this ballad is a perfect change of pace.

This lush and beautiful ballad in the tradition of Thad Jones' A Child Is Born offers an opportunity for your first alto sax to shine. The bridge has some unexpected harmonic twists.

A gorgeous and lush ballad setting of Dvorak's beloved theme - beautiful harmony accompanies the lyrical melody as the texture melts from transparent to full and lush.

This exquisite ballad features the whole ensemble. Beautiful harmony and flowing unison melodic lines make this a perfect down tune for a concert or festival. There is a short written solo for alto sax

Aptly named, this laid-back swing ballad is a wonderful way to introduce young musicians to this iconic Basie style. Once your band can play an accent on the "and" of one and "fat" (not rushed!) quarter

This straight-eighth ballad is beautiful and bold. Full of emotion, this chart is perfect for working on phrasing and contrast to help bring depth to the performance.

Get a glimpse into the past with this nostalgic ballad written to feature a solo instrument as well as your ensemble's dynamic range. This is a great chart to balance any program and slow things

This wonderful alto saxophone solo feature is powerful and moving with notes of nostalgia and pain. This ballad is a great selection for any concert program.

Smooth and flowing melodies blend wonderfully together to create a lush ballad that will show the more sensitive side of your ensemble. Featuring a singular tenor sax solo that shines above the brass

Here's a classy way to introduce the bossa nova style to your developing players. This lyrical chart is great for focusing on developing dynamic phrasing without being too advanced. 

Here is a mysterious, richly scored ballad composed in the Cuban bolero style and featuring a solo flugelhorn. This piece is great to slow things down and show the more expressive side of your ensemble at

This chart starts out with a triplet-based ballad section featuring the trumpet and quickly changes to a moderate swing with a great melody. The saxophone soli is rhythmic and syncopated - a great

This work is sophisticated in its harmonic language while remaining within the reach of a younger band. It's a beautiful and evocative concert piece that will show the depths of your band's ability. This

This beautiful ballad is the perfect showcase for your alto soloist. The pensive melody and rich harmony combine to create a wonderful change of pace for your program. Starting as a ballad, it moves into an

This Benny Golson ballad has become a standard trumpet or flugelhorn solo feature over the years. This chart is a gorgeous straight-eighth ballad at around 70 bpm that features a flugel soloist while the

This beautiful ballad for developing groups features an alto saxophone soloist with an emphasis on lyricism and rich harmonies. It also features a confident double-time section along with a solidly scored

One of the most famous of all Dave Brubeck works, this ballad has been recorded by such luminaries as Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane, and Wes Montgomery. Set here in an easy flowing swing style,

This beautiful jazz ballad is the perfect showcase for an aspiring trumpet soloist. The pensive melody and rich harmonies combine to create a wonderful change-of-pace chart. While there is a short

Featuring a tenor saxophone soloist, Curveball is in the style of the Ray Charles big band. It opens with huge ensemble brass and bluesy sax lines that switch in and out of a double-time swing

Theme for Bill is a beautiful, straight-eighth ensemble ballad that will provide the perfect change-of-pace on any program! The pensive melody is backed throughout by lush orchestration, and a

Alan Baylock sets this wonderful tune in a sultry 12/8 groove played at about 72 bpm, making it feel lazy and relaxed. There are no solos, just sweet ensemble writing all the way. The lead trumpet

Ideal for young jazz bands, this moderately slow swinger is a tribute to legendary composer Neal Hefti. Lil' Hefty is a melodic chart with well-noted articulations, written-out rhythm section

Feature your aspiring trombone soloist with this soulful rock ballad. The range is very moderate to ensure a feeling of security, the solo part is mostly written, and the accessible improvised solo section

Here's the stunning hit single from the movie "A Star Is Born" recorded by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper. This chart for younger players features a rock ballad style, solid scoring for the entire ensemble,