Valley Jazz Cooperative

As July draws to a close, it’s time to promote our final 2026 VJC Publications release. And so it concludes with… “And So It Begins,” by composer Dave Rivello.

This exciting, contemporary work for jazz ensemble draws inspiration from the contrapuntal line writing of Bob Brookmeyer. Combining those contrapuntal concepts with Brookmeyer’s approach to pedal points and his use of quartal and closed 4th structures, Dave has crafted a composition with a unique sound and a particular musical perspective.

The VJC Alumni Band premiered And So It Begins last month as the concert opener, and the piece was thoroughly enjoyed by performers and audience members alike. As with nearly all the 2026 releases, it’s a flexible instrumentation piece, sounding complete with as few as 11 performers (3-3-2-3), but also designed for full jazz ensemble (5-4-4-5).

A COMPLETE recording of And So It Begins is available on the VJC YouTube page. To music educator friends, all VJCP releases are available for purchase at the VJC Publications Store on the Valley Jazz website.

Here’s our third and final Christmas-in-July release from VJC Publications! A New Orleans holiday feel bursts forth in O Christmas Tree, a rousing chart from arranger Antonio J. García.

A front line of trumpet, tenor sax, and trombone partners up with notated rhythm parts, detailing the funky feels (N’Awlins 3-2 streetbeat and Mardi Gras Indian grooves). There is solo space for anyone/everyone in the band…and the fun solo backgrounds reference classic NOLA tunes. There’s even a “Holiday Jam” section featuring a medley of overlapping seasonal themes to cap this uniquely creative chart!

As with nearly all of our 2026 releases, it’s a flexible instrumentation piece, sounding complete with as few as 11 performers (3-3-2-3), but also designed for full jazz ensemble (5-4-4-5). A COMPLETE recording of O Christmas Tree is available on the VJC YouTube page. Give it a listen! To music educator friends, all these releases are available for purchase at the VJC Publications Store on the Valley Jazz website.

Here’s another wonderful VJC Publications release for 2026! Composed and arranged by Jhoely Garay, Olas is a groovy piece in straight eighths, inspired by the rhythm of the cha-cha-chá. It features guitar as the solo instrument.

Olas combines traditional jazz progressions with modal harmonies. Drawing from the ebb and flow of ocean waves, it highlights the interplay between the horns and the rhythm section in a friendly and accessible manner, specially tailored for developing jazz musicians.

This piece is a unique offering in the VJCP “flex chart” catalog. As a guitar feature, Olas will sound complete with as few as 12 players (3-3-2-4). But (of course!) it will sound even better with a full jazz ensemble (5-4-4-5).

The COMPLETE recording to Olas is available on the VJC YouTube page. Check it out! And to our music educator friends, all these releases are available for purchase at the VJC Publications Store on the Valley Jazz website.

Here’s the second of three Christmas-in-July releases from VJC Publications! Inspired by the timeless music of Vince Guaraldi’s “A Charlie Brown Christmas”, Benjamin Hedquist’s arrangement of I Saw Three Ships comes to life as a sprightly jazz waltz. Featuring playful, syncopated rhythms throughout, and providing ample room for a handful of soloists, this chart is perfect for any holiday performance.

As with nearly all of our 2026 releases, it’s a flexible instrumentation piece, sounding complete with as few as 11 performers (3-3-2-3), but also designed for full jazz ensemble (5-4-4-5). A COMPLETE recording of I Saw Three Ships is available on the VJC YouTube page. Please give it a listen! To music educator friends, all these releases are available for purchase at the VJC Publications Store on the Valley Jazz website.

We’re back with another new release from VJC Publications. This time, it’s a wonderfully creative example of sacred jazz: Tom Wolfe’s remarkable arrangement of When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.

Reimagined as a modal jazz construct, the chart’s mesmerizing, drone-like quality feels reminiscent of late-career John Coltrane. And in crafting this chart, arranger Wolfe has conceived of a most unique pathway. There are multiple melodies/musical settings commonly attached to the same lyrics of this hymn. The arrangement here weaves in two of the most familiar: “Hamburg”, composed by Lowell Mason, and the English folk song “O Waly Waly.” Such richness in creative vision makes this chart a true stand out.

A recording of the FULL version of When I Survey the Wondrous Cross is available on the VJC YouTube page. Check it out! To our music educator friends, all these new 2026 releases—as well as classics from previous years—are available for purchase at the VJC Publications Store on the Valley Jazz website.

It’s the first of three “Christmas in July” videos from VJC Publications! This one places the spotlight on Jhoely Garay’s lovely treatment of Silent Night. This chart is actually a 2025 VJC Publications release, but we didn’t have a studio recording of it until just last month. With a nice recording now available, it’s time to promote this wonderful arrangement anew.

As reimagined by Jhoely, Silent Night maintains its inherently gentle and reverential character, while transformed into a more traditional jazz waltz. With creative yet subtle reharmonizations, effective use of pedal points, and deft orchestrational choices, the old Christmas hymn is presented with an attractive and refined variety throughout.

A recording of the FULL version of Silent Night is available on the VJC YouTube page. Feel free to check that out! To our music educator friends, all these great charts are available for purchase at the VJC Publications Store on the Valley Jazz website.

The 2026 VJC Publications chart highlighted today is a sweet, introspective, meditative Bossa Nova from the pen of Valley Jazz Cooperative Founder Russell Schmidt. Bossa ‘Round Here features a gentle, lyrical melody, some lovely, contrapuntal lines, and solo space for either Alto Sax I or Tenor Sax I to improvise.

A recording of the FULL version of Bossa ‘Round Here is available on the VJC YouTube page. Feel free to check that out! To our music educator friends, these charts are available for purchase at the VJC Publications Store on the Valley Jazz website.

Here’s another VJC Publications release for 2026! Written for young jazz ensemble, Blues at the Hub is a brand new chart from George Darrah, a Boston-based composer, drummer, and music educator. Among his many noteworthy credits, George is on the music faculty of Endicott College (Beverly, MA) and is the drummer for Keith Lockhart & the Boston Pops Orchestra.

Blues at the Hub provides a great introduction to the blues for developing jazz musicians, with emphasis on a lot of traditional big band figures. It is the only release in the 2026 catalog for JHS-level groups, but can also be a well-programmed selection for freshman/9th grade ensembles. Enjoy!

Recordings of full versions of these VJC Publications charts are over on the VJC YouTube page. And for music educator friends, these charts are available for purchase at the VJC Publications Store on the Valley Jazz website. More to come next week!

2026 VJC Publications have just started to be released! We’ll promote one or two of them each week, so if you are a musician or educator, please check out this great NEW MUSIC! (Recordings of full versions over on the VJC YouTube page…and the charts are available for purchase at the VJC Publications Store on the Valley Jazz website.)

First up? In That Moment, an evocative new ballad from composer Dave Rivello. This is a very modern piece, with hints of modality and an elliptical, searching quality to it. It’s a great feature for a talented trumpet soloist. Give it a listen!

Hey, Trevin Rockwood! What do you have to say about tomorrow night's VJC Alumni Band Summer Celebration concert (06/27 @ 7PM in Ravenscroft Hall, Scottsdale)?