Choral - Vocal Jazz Ensemble

"I am thrilled whenever I see Bryan's name on the chart. His writing is highly artistic,
and always able to connect emotionally with the most musically diverse audiences!" 
     - Darden Purcell, D.M.A. 
        Director of Jazz Studies, Jazz Voice
        George Mason University
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Chega de Saudade (No More Blues)
Vocal Jazz Ensemble (SSATT)
​ADVANCED 
Music by Antônio Carlos Jobim, lyrics by Vinícius de Moraes; English lyrics by Jon Hendricks and Jessie Cavanaugh; ​arranged by Bryan Kidd
Bop meets the bossa nova in this challenging tour de force for vocal jazz ensemble with rhythm section accompaniment. Solo improvisational opportunities for vocalist or instrumentalist. Technically demanding, this arrangement pays huge musical and artistic rewards.​
Video Score performance by the George Mason University Vocal Jazz Ensemble,
​Dr. Darden Purcell, Director
Eternal Father, Strong Save 
SATB Chorus
​MEDIUM
Text by William Whiting (1860), music by John Bacchus Dykes (1861); 
​arranged by Bryan Kidd
As performed The United States Navy Band chorus, The Sea Chanters
This version of "Eternal Father, Strong to Save" was arranged for The United States Navy Band Sea Chanters for their performances as a single-verse benedictory hymn. On occasion, the Sea Chanters precede this arrangement with a vocalise verse using the traditional hymnbook harmony, a copy of which is included in this publication.
     Musically, the focus of this arrangement is the interesting internal linear melodies that can be derived from Dykes’ compelling harmonic progression that moves through seven keys in just eight bars.  Available either as either Octavo-size hardcopies or EPrint
​​Video Score performance by The United States Navy Band Sea Chanters
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Santa Claus is Comin' to Town
​Vocal Jazz Ensemble (SATB) or Vocal Soloist, Big Band and optional Strings
​PROFESSIONAL​
J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie; ​arranged by Bryan Kidd
As performed by The American Festival Pops Orchestra, Anthony Maiello, Founder and Conductor Emeritus
​Featuring your Vocal Jazz Ensemble (SATB) swinging like Basie and singing in the close harmony style made popular by groups like Manhattan Transfer, The Four Freshmen, and Jo Stafford and the Pied Pipers. Written in 1943, it's an enduring seasonal favorite that spans generations of great performers from Bing  to Bublé.
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We Need a Little Christmas
Full Orchestra with Chorus (SSATB)
​PROFESSIONAL
​Jerry Herman; ​arranged by Bryan Kidd
As performed by the American Festival Pops Orchestra, Anthony Maiello, Founder and Conductor Emeritus ​
With a touch of John Philip Sousa, a spiritedly bright opener for your Christmas Season concert. Jerry Herman’s “We Need a Little Christmas” was introduced by Angela Lansbury and Beatrice Arthur in the 1966 Tony Award-winning Broadway production, Mame. A subsequent cover later that year by Percy Faith and His Orchestra and Chorus further established it as a seasonal favorite – other notable artists include the Muppets, Johnny Mathis, Idina Menzel and Pentatonix.​
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You Gotta Be
Vocal Jazz Ensemble (SSATB)
​MEDIUM ADVANCED 
Words and music by Des'ree; additional music by Ashley Ingram; arranged by Bryan Kidd
Des'ree's 1994 R&B hit is a wonderful message of achieving strength and confidence through persistent perseverance when faced with life's challenges: attitude and love are the key ingredients. "You Gotta Be" was arranged to feature the multiple talents -- ensemble and solo singing, and improvisation -- of George Mason University's Vocal Jazz Ensemble, under the direction Dr. Darden Purcell for their 2018 Jazz Education Network Conference performance.
Video Score performance by the George Mason University Vocal Jazz Ensemble,
​Dr. Darden Purcell, Director