Standard of Excellence Jazz Combo Session is a collection of jazz compositions that can be played in a wide variety of "combo" settings. Throughout its history, jazz has been performed and recorded more often in a combo setting than any other, and this collection gives you the opportunity to participate in this exciting endeavor. A jazz combo can take on many different forms, but usually includes a rhythm section (piano and/or guitar, bass, and drums) and one or more woodwind, brass, mallet percussion, or string instruments. The combination of instruments is left to the creativity of the players and director. Format of Standard of Excellence Jazz Combo Session tunes: Combo playing puts a much greater emphasis on improvisation than does playing in a jazz ensemble. When playing in a combo, jazz musicians often read a lead sheet that includes a melody line and chord symbols on a single staff. Any introductions, endings, or harmony parts are created by the musicians. To help you learn how to create this material, your Standard of Excellence Jazz Combo Session book is written in a two-staff format. The melody is written on the top staff, and a harmony part is written on the bottom staff. In some cases, the harmony part is simply in unison or octaves with the melody. Introductions and/or endings are also included on some pieces. Even limited listening to jazz combo recordings reveals that the majority of a performance consists of improvised solos. Typically, the melody, or head, is played, followed by an open solo section. When all players who wish to improvise have completed their solos, the head is played again. Even with the addition of an introduction and/or extended (lengthened) ending, the basic head-solo-head form is retained. This form, used by jazz musicians in real jam sessions, is also used for each tune in Standard of Excellence Jazz Combo Session. - Inside front cover.