Jazz Arranging Techniques
Jazz Arranging Techniques
From Quartet to Big Band, Jazz Arranging Techniques presents all the tools and techniques of jazz arranging in an efficient and comprehensive format.
This textbook, which can be studied either individually or in a classroom environment, includes a compendium of resources available online with sixty-one audio examples corresponding to scores in the book, as well as separate PDF files of all the assignments. Jazz Theory and Harmony, principles of jazz voice leading, voicing techniques, rules governing music calligraphy, chord symbol nomenclature, and jazz notation and articulation are presented in a very systematic, step by step approach. Attention is given to the function of each instrument in the ensemble, including their range, register, transposition, dynamic capabilities, and idiomatic characteristics.
Theories of balance and blend are provided with multiple recordings and scores.The most unique feature in Jazz Arranging Techniques is the way in which the many techniques are examined and applied.
Jazz Arranging Techniques provides examples of techniques used in small and large ensembles and further explains in detail how to work and create voicings for the most popular settings in Jazz music:
Four to six mixed horns (Brass and Reeds)
Five Saxophones
Four Trombones
Four Trumpets
Eight Brass
Full Ensemble (Brass and Reeds combined)
Over fifty scoring examples and four complete arrangements with recordings provide a wealth of material supporting the techniques examined in the text. Parts notation for rhythm-section is covered in great detail as well as methods of articulating horn lines, adjusting the balance and blend, amongst other valuable idiomatic instrument techniques.
Jazz Arranging Techniques includes a vast amount of resources in PDF and audio format to facilitate learning the principles discussed in the book.
Testimonials
Jim McNeely
Jazz Composer/Arranger and Recording Artist (Pianist)
“Jazz Arranging Techniques is full of very useful information. The musical examples are clear and instructive and the exercises are really useful… I’m going to put it on my ‘highly recommended’ list for my students.”
Maria Schneider
Jazz Composer/Arranger and Conductor
“Gary Lindsay’s Jazz Arranging Techniques fills a very big hole in educational material on arranging. I’ll never forget the day that the light FINALLY went on for me about writing closed and drop-2 voicings as I sat in Gary’s arranging class many years ago. Gary has a knack for making ‘seemingly’ mysterious things very accessible.
Leaving no stone unturned, his book covers advanced voicing techniques of all kinds going in depth on everything from upper structure triads to quartal voicings and clusters. Gary makes clear the often confusing task of notating for rhythm section. Audio tracks of the examples and scores in the book plus PDF files of all the homework assignments are available here on his website.
I fully expect that Jazz Arranging Techniques will become the textbook of choice in college courses on arranging and for people who wish to study on their own…
I highly recommend this book. There is nothing else like it. Ten stars!”
Bob Mintzer
Jazz Composer/Arranger and Recording Artist (Saxophonist)
Gary Lindsay has come up with a comprehensive text that covers all pertinent information pertaining to arranging for various size jazz ensembles… Jazz Arranging Techniques is one of the most comprehensive books on the subject. It really is a cool book.
Denis DiBlasio - Director of the Jazz program and Executive Director of The Maynard Ferguson Institute of Jazz at Rowan University
Some Schools Known to be Using Jazz Arranging Techniques
University of Miami
Miami, FloridaFlorida International University
Miami, FloridaNew World School of the Arts (High School)
Miami, FloridaUniversity of Missouri at Kansas City
Kansas City, MissouriUniversity of Oregon
Eugene, OregonSouthwestern Community College
Creston, IowaUniversity of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IowaUniversity of Denver
Denver, ColoradoSaddleback College
Mission Viejo, CaliforniaFullerton College
Fullerton, CaliforniaKennesaw State University
Kennesaw, GA
University of Nevada
Reno, NevadaMiddle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TennesseeElmhurst College
Elmhurst, IllinoisUniversity of Illinois
Champaign, IllinoisSouthern Illinois University
Edwardsville, IllinoisEastern Washington University
Cheney, Washington StateMoravian College
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania | Contoocook, New HampshireMohawk College
Hamilton, OntarioKonservatoria Wieh, Musikschule
Vienna, AustriaGuildhall School of Music and Drama
EnglandRowan University
New Jersey
Adelaide University
Adelaide, Australia | Auckland, New Zealand | Reykjavik, IcelandSidney Conservatorium
Sidney, AustraliaUniversity of North Florida
Jacksonville, FloridaNew York University
New York, NYMiami Dade College, North Campus
Miami, FloridaTennessee State University
Nashville, TNUniversity of Northern Colorado
Greeley, COCalifornia State University, Long Beach
Long Beach CATiffin University
Tiffin, OHTruman State University
Kirksville, MO
About the Author
Professor Emeritus Gary Lindsay is an arranger/composer, performer, educator and author. His degrees include a bachelors in Music Education from the University of Rhode Island and a Master’s Degree in Jazz Performance from the University of Miami where he is a full-time professor. As an arranger and composer, Gary has worked with Maynard Ferguson, Michael Brecker, Pat Metheny, Jose Feliciano, Natalie Cole, Gloria Estefan, Arturo Sandoval, The Florida Philharmonic, The Airmen of Note, The South Florida Jazz Orchestra, The Atlantean Driftwood Band, The Miami Saxophone Quartet, etc.
Gary composes, arranges and performs on Alto saxophone with the Miami Saxophone Quartet and the South Florida Jazz Orchestra. He is a recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts award, a Chamber Music America grant from the Doris Duke Foundation and received a Grammy nomination in arranging for “Cherokee” from the Arturo Sandoval CD I Remember Clifford.
Professor Lindsay is the Director of the Master’s in Music program in Studio/Jazz Writing and the Doctoral program in Jazz Composition in the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, where he has been teaching since 1980.