“Sing a Song of Song” is a composition by alto saxophonist Kenny Garrett, a veteran of Miles Davis’s band and one of the most influential saxophonists of his generation. It has become popular with jazz students and ensembles thanks to its catchy melody and energetic, modern feel.
The tune combines a singable, repeating melody with modern harmony and an infectious groove. Its structure gives soloists room to build intensity, often over vamps or shifting key areas.
Section by section: during the head, play the melody with strong, clear articulation, matching Garrett’s bright alto sound. In the solo section, use pentatonic and modal ideas over the vamps, building from short motifs to longer phrases. When the harmony shifts, mark the change with a new chord tone. Garrett’s playing is known for its intensity and use of repetition to build excitement.
Practice with a play-along and learn the melody by ear from Garrett’s recording.
Transposing tip: horn players should get a lead sheet in their key.
Arrangement idea: open with the rhythm section setting up the groove, then bring in the melody with strong, unison horns. Let the solos build in intensity and finish with a high-energy return to the head.
Getting the most from the Sing a Song of Song Lead Sheet PDF: start by reading the chord symbols without your instrument and humming the roots. Then circle any chord you can’t yet voice or arpeggiate, and make those your warm-up for the week before you play the whole form.
Using the Sing a Song of Song Lead Sheet PDF on gigs: keep a concert-pitch copy and a copy in your instrument’s key, label the intro and ending on the page, and note the tempo and feel the band usually plays. Small notes like these keep you calm when a tune gets called on the spot.
Is it hard to play? It’s intermediate. Recordings to study: Kenny Garrett’s recordings. Learn more about the composer on Kenny Garrett’s Wikipedia page, and find more modern jazz lead sheets on Minedit.