All About Jazz Bands

Jazz Bands are one of the most popular things we deal with and for those looking for a professional Jazz Band to Hire Fantasia Music has a great choice. A Jazz Band can range from a 2 piece of say Sax and Piano, all the way through to and 18 piece big Band and everything in between. Jazz can be instrumental (without a singer) for background music, and popular events for this include drinks receptions where the presence of a singer might draw attention away from guests meeting for the first time and general chatting.

A Dixieland Band is ever popular for outside events and the sight of striped blazers and straw boaters always means you are in for some uplifting, toe tapping music. These bands use acoustic instruments and so can roam among your guests delighting them with tunes such as Tiger Rag, When the Saints Go Marching In & Royal garden Blues.

Swing Jazz is favoured for dancing and this usually involves larger bands featuring a singer with rhythm section of Piano, Bass & Drums with additional ‘front line’ musicians such as Sax, Trumpet, Trombone. Swing Jazz also includes Rat Pack Bands where the music features songs of Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jnr. Songs like ‘Fly me To the Moon’, ‘New York New York’, ‘Sway’ and ‘Mr Bojangles’.

Another form of Swing Jazz is Jump Jive, Jazz that really gets people dancing! This is music of the 1940s with a mix of Rock n Roll, Boogie, Swing and Lindyhop imported from the USA but very popular in Europe. Exponents of this were Cab Calloway, Louis Prima, Louis Jordan etc. Songs include ‘Jump, Jive & Wail’, ‘Flip, Flop, Fly’, Safronia B, Sing, Sing, Sing

Onto 1920s Bands now where the style is quite different. 1920s Bands hark back to the dancehall days of the 20s and 30s where The Charleston was King and ‘Flapper Girls’ danced alongside bands to add style and give something more visual. With the accent on rhythm these bands work well for Great Gatsby events or Peaky Blinders themed events.

Here are some recommendations of excellent Jazz Bands for different events:

Jazz for receptions and background music

For a drinks reception where you and your guests will want to chat, the music should be in the background so Jazz Duos and Trios work well for this. Check out The Kyle Shenton Jazz Trio (below) or The Virginia Jazz Trio.

Jazz al Fresco!

If the reception is to be held outside then an upbeat Jazz Band such as a Dixieland Band would work well. New Orleans style band The Mardi Gras Jazz Band (below) are excellent and The Southern Allstars have a line up to suit most budgets.

Jazz Bands with Singer

Jazz Quartets can work well in the wedding breakfast and can include a singer. These bands will have a good repertoire of well known jazz tunes/songs. For a small band with vocals look at MPR Jazz (below) or The Claire Harper Quartet.

Swinging Jazz for Partying and dancing

For the evening party Jazz band Hire covers lots of different styles. Swing Bands are very popular and these go from a 4 or 5 piece band up to 11 piece bands with horn section and singers. Swing Swing Swing are one of the best 5pc bands and for something larger look at The Jazz Cannons (below).

Swing Jazz & Rat Pack singers

Rat Pack bands come under the Swing Jazz category however a popular option is a band that can play Rat Pack, Swing, Jive etc. so that there is something for everyone. Paul Pashley (below) and Glenn Macnamara have great bands that are flexible in size to suit your venue and pocket.

Jump Jive & Swing Bands

Jump Jive & Swing Bands play energetic dance music of the 1940s where Louis Prima, Louis Jordan produced great recordings. Class exponents of this style are the hugely popular and exciting ‘Jive Aces‘ who play throughout the world for festivals and dance events, and also check out ‘The Ding Dong Daddios‘ who offer a more laid back style.

1920s Jazz Bands for a Glitzy Gatsby event

1920s and 30s Jazz can be great fun and we have Jazz Bands that play 1920s dance music ‘Great Gatsby’ style featuring songs such as The Charleston, The Black Bottom and The Continental. Here are a couple of options in different price brackets- The Pasadena Roof Orchestra and The Jazz Spivs.

Contact us via telephone on 01202 421743 or via our online contact form to discuss Jazz for your event. We’d be happy to help and advise you further on choosing the perfect jazz music for your special occasion.

Author: Steve Gallagher