Favorites for high school jazz band

Hey all, I'm in my school's jazz band and we're looking for ideas for our next performance. What are some of the most frequently played songs in high school jazz bands?

Hello! It's wonderful to hear that you're performing in a high school jazz band and are seeking new pieces for your repertoire. Several standards are known to be often played in high school jazz bands due to their educational value and popularity with audiences.

Here are some top picks:

1. "Watermelon Man" by Herbie Hancock: Originally a hard bop tune, the song was later rearranged in a funkier style, and both versions are well-liked in jazz education.

2. "Take the 'A' Train" by Duke Ellington: An iconic tune in jazz literature, students can delve into swing rhythm and blues scale with this piece.

3. "In The Mood" by Glenn Miller: This one's an evergreen choice, offering a blast from the big-band era.

4. "Chameleon" by Herbie Hancock: A funk-jazz piece that's often played by junior bands due to its relatively simple harmonic structure and catchy groove.

5. "Birdland" by Weather Report: A jazz-fusion classic that offers a more modern, upbeat choice.

These songs should be approachable for high school musicians while providing learning opportunities in various jazz styles and techniques. Plus, they're crowd-pleasers! Hope this gives you some inspiration for your next jazz band performance.