Jazz bands are the perfect and most popular option for all types of events. In this post we tell you everything you need to know to hire jazz groups for your parties and events wedding bands south wales.
Guide to hiring a jazz band for events
- Know the different types of jazz bands
Knowing the different types of jazz bands will help you know what you need for your event. But if we start to classify the different types of jazz bands , it would be appropriate to do a brief review of the evolution of the genre throughout history.
Jazz develops from 3 musical traditions that coexisted at the end of the 19th century in the United States: the instrumental orchestras of the typical American military bands (marches), the influence of European music, religious chants (spiritual) and improvisation of the African American community.
At this time we began to talk about ragtime , a mainly piano genre that is considered the greatest influence on the origin of jazz . Starting in 1900, what we know today as Traditional Jazz developed with the famous New Orleans style . The street bands performed ragtime, marches, spirituals,… giving way to improvisation , the most characteristic feature of jazz .
In these bands the greatest weight fell on the cornet that played the main melody, supported by the trombone and clarinet that introduced improvised variations on that basis. Gradually, more instruments such as double bass, sax, banjo, piano and percussion were incorporated. It is here where we find the Dixieland bands and the first jazz recording dated 1917 , which is a Dixie record .
The Chicago style developed since 1920, incorporating a more frenetic rhythm and with the sax as a prominent instrument. In the 1930s, the golden age of jazz began with swing and big bands .
From here we can say that jazz has evolved into different subgenres such as bebop , cool jazz , smooth jazz , jazz fusion , nu jazz , etc.
Dixieland bands
Now you place the Dixieland bands with the more traditional jazz of the New Orleans style . In this type of groups, which were normally street groups, 3 instruments predominated in their origins: the tuba, the cornet and the piano, but we can find dixie bands that have more instruments such as the clarinet, bass, trombone, sax , the banjo or percussion instruments.
They are generally instrumental bands, because they were street music that did not need amplification, but this does not mean that dixie cannot be sung. We can find Dixieland bands with or without a singer, even in big bands.
At La Factoría del Show we are lucky to have the Dixie Cream Jazz Band made up of top-level musicians with a banjo, a tuba, a sax and the singer Pilar Gual, expandable to more musicians if the event requires it such as the trumpet, trombone , clarinet or percussion. They are from Madrid and have an extensive career as jazz musicians performing in venues, musical shows and events of all kinds.
Big Band Orchestra
Big band orchestras have evolved over time, from 10-member formations to large orchestras of more than 20 musicians. What characterizes this type of band is its division into 3 instrumental sections: brass (trumpet, trombone,…), woodwinds (saxophone, clarinet, flute…) and rhythm (piano, guitar, bass, drums,…).
Standards Groups
They are the bands that cover famous jazz classics and take well-known songs from other genres to their own territory, giving them their personal touch.
Here it is time to present Vintage Jazz Cabaret . A group that combines two types of shows, whether you want to enjoy jazz classics or ambient music, or if you are looking to escape into a Berlin cabaret show from the 1930s. Get to know this band led by the exquisite voice of its singer, Barbara Black.
Other groups
Within jazz we find different subgenres such as jazz fusion, Latin jazz, bossanova, chill out jazz, electronic jazz, nu jazz, brasserie (piano bar),…
Blancafonk is a group that fuses contemporary jazz with electronic music and chill out, which makes them the perfect option for those looking to break away from the traditional.
- What events does jazz music fit into?
We don’t need to convince you any further that hiring a jazz group is one of the best options to liven up an event. But if you want more arguments we’ll give them to you.
Jazz groups , in addition to having excellent musicians, take great care of their image and staging. Which will give your event elegance and sophistication.
Jazz music is a delight for the ears of those attending. And if anyone doubted or didn’t know, many of the guests will discover that they like jazz .
They are groups that fit perfectly with all types of events: corporate events, inaugurations, product presentation parties, trade fairs, anniversaries, dinners, cocktails, fashion shows or Fashion Night Out days, Christmas parties,…
- Jazz for weddings
Weddings deserve a special mention, since jazz bands are among the most in demand at this type of event . And although we repeat ourselves again, it is a type of music that encourages conversation between guests , and in addition to elegance, it provides a lot of romanticism.
Except in the religious ceremony, we can say that a jazz band fits in any wedding event: proposal, pre-wedding, Civil ceremony, cocktail party, wedding banquet, the bride and groom’s dance…
Swing fan?
It is one of the latest trends in the most modern weddings. The Lindy Hop is one of the top proposals for those who want to give a fun and colorful air to the wedding dance. You will surprise the guests and after the bride and groom dance, everyone will be able to join the wonderful swing party.
- What is the repertoire of a jazz band?
The repertoire will depend on the type of jazz band you have chosen for the event: dixie, swing, standards, bossanova, electronic jazz… In any case, the repertoire will not lack essential jazz names such as Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman… passing through more current ones like Norah Jones, Esperanza Spalding, Jamie Cullum or Diana Krall. They also include jazz adaptations of current songs or songs from other genres, something that turns out to have a lot of appeal for the public. - How much does it cost to hire a jazz band?
Before talking about prices, you have to know that when you hire a jazz group , you are hiring professional musicians with knowledge, preparation, technique and experience. Why do we emphasize this? Many times we find ourselves with a great lack of knowledge of the artist’s work and in this case, to be a jazz musician requires many years of study and preparation. That is why when you hire a jazz band you have to value all this work, they also contribute their instrument, their time, travel, assembly, etc.
We can find jazz groups with different caches depending on their experience and the number of members. An approximate price would be a minimum of 150 euros per musician for a show lasting between 1 and 2 hours . Then you would have to add travel expenses , which is why we always recommend hiring artists from the same province as the event.
- Technical requirements
Requirements usually vary depending on the type of training. Many jazz bands play acoustically, adding a discreet and small speaker and microphone for the singers; a complete sound system is not usually required except when the musicians need amplification. This will always depend on the place where the performance will take place or the characteristics of the event.
- Recommendations for hiring a jazz band
The first recommendation for your search for jazz groups is to listen to and view , beforehand, material from various bands.
Read opinions from other clients and people who have seen them perform live.
Do not put price as a priority and value more aspects such as quality, professionalism, image, charisma, staging and career.
- Where to find jazz bands for your event
The doubt offends. At La Factoría del Show, the largest online portal for hiring artists in Spain.
This link takes you to the jazz groups , you just have to filter by province and visit the artistic profiles for more information.
Soak up all the information about the groups: photos, videos, audios, description of the show, opinions,…
Consider several options and compare taking into account our recommendations.
- How to hire jazz bands at La Factoría del Show
In the artistic sheets you will find information about the show, photos, videos, opinions and contact information (phone number, website, social networks). If you choose this option you will save time and commissions, but don’t forget to inform the group that you have found it at La Factoría del Show.