Jazz arranging is a craft learned through close listening, careful study, and sustained engagement with the music’s history and practices. Over the years, students and colleagues have frequently asked me to recommend arranging texts that balance technical rigor with musical insight. What follows is a curated selection from my own bookshelf—resources I’ve found especially valuable as a composer, arranger, and educator.
These books are not meant to be consumed quickly. Each rewards patience, repeated study, and application at the piano or score paper.
Jazz Arranging and Composing, A Linear Approach
by Bill Dobbins
Advance Music
* with compact disc
I use this book every year in my fall semester small group arranging course. Throughout the text, Dobbins works with just two tunes, reimagining them in multiple ways for rhythm section plus one, two, three, and four horns. The result is a clear, methodical approach that emphasizes linear thinking and practical musical decision-making.
Inside the Score, a detailed analysis of 8 classic jazz ensemble charts by Sammy Nestico, Thad Jones, and Bob Brookmeyer
by Rayburn Wright
Kendor Music, Inc.
* with compact disc
Every student big band arranger should own this book. Wright’s analytical clarity—particularly his use of dynamic contour charts—offers a powerful framework for understanding large-scale form. The voicing breakdowns are precise, and the included interviews provide rare insight into the thinking of three master arrangers.
Basics In Jazz Arranging
by Paris Rutherford
— and —
Introduction to Big Band Arranging
by Paris Rutherford
Paris Rutherford taught jazz arranging at the University of North Texas for over 25 years. Given that institution’s long tradition of producing exceptional professional arrangers, I was eager to study the materials he relied upon throughout his career. These books are thorough, clearly written, and grounded in real-world practice. Basics in Jazz Arranging is now published by Hal Leonard, and a chapter-by-chapter summary is available on Rutherford’s website.
The Contemporary Arranger
by Don Sebesky
Alfred Publishing Company
* with compact disc
The Complete Arranger
by Sammy Nestico
Fenwood Music Company
* with compact disc
Changes Over Time: The Evolution of Jazz Arranging
by Fred Sturm
Instrumental Jazz Arranging
A Comprehensive and Practical Guide
by Mike Tomaro and John Wilson
Hal Leonard Corporation
This is among the most comprehensive and methodical jazz arranging resources currently available. I continue to work through it gradually, and its scope, clarity, and depth make it an exceptional reference for serious students and professionals alike.