Hire the best Jazz Bands in the UK

When booking jazz musicians, it’s important to take every detail into consideration and remember what you want from the musicians you’re booking. It could be that you’re looking for a musician to play classy background music for your guests or perhaps a jazz band get your guests up and dancing!

Either way, with 440 jazz bands on the Last Minute Musicians entertainment directory, you're bound to find the perfect act for your event. The only limit is your creativity!

"Del and his band stepped in at the last minute after we were let down by our previous band. They were professional throughout with all of the arrangements before the event. On the night they were perfect, great tunes played extremely well giving the right atmosphere for our event. Many of our guests remarked on their great performance. We would have no hesitation in recommending them or booking them again."

David and Susan's review of Jigsaw Jazz

Ideal for:

One of the reasons jazz is a popular choice for events is because it’s suitable for practically any event, whatever the guest list! For example, a cocktail pianist can play a variation of popular jazz standards, amongst more popular contemporary songs. Jazz musicians can create a sophisticated atmosphere, which will add a real sense of occasion to your event.

Jazz musicians will be particularly suited to more formal events - black-tie weddings, corporate events and other functions. Instrumental Duos, Trios and Quartets are great for these type of events.

When booking Jazz Bands:

When booking a jazz band, it’s vital that you consider where you will be getting the musicians to play. Too many times bands have been booked to play in a space only to find that they are unable to perform when they arrive. This can be due to a lack of power points (plugs/extension cables), sound limiters or other venue restrictions. Make sure you communicate with your group about this in advance. It’s also important to consider the acoustics of the space where you want the musicians to play; a solo jazz guitarist for example may be drowned out in a room of 100 people.

If you’re booking jazz bands for a wedding, you may want them to play at various different times during your special day and possibly even during the breakfast or dinner the day after. If this is the case, you will need to make the musicians aware of this before the day of the gig. This gives musicians the opportunity to consider what material they play and be aware of when they will take breaks in their set.

It’s also extremely important that you discuss the bands’ technical requirements before the event. Many bands require a dressing room to store valuables and change into suitable clothes for the event. It’s also crucial that you are aware of how long a jazz band may take to set up and pack away.

Prices for Jazz Bands:

Quotes from jazz bands will change, usually depending on how many musicians are in the group. A jazz duo may charge around £300, with larger acts of 5 or 6 members charging a minimum of £850. If you are looking to cut down on any potential travel costs, then use the "advanced search" feature to find a jazz band near you.

About Jazz Bands repertoire:

Jazz bands will match their repertoire to the sort of atmosphere you are looking to create. If you prefer a more relaxed set, in the background of your event, then they will draw from jazz standards like "The Days of Wine and Roses", "Autumn Leaves" and "All of Me". These will usually be performed instrumentally.

However, if you're looking to have a set that's suitable for dancing, then your band will pick more up beat numbers like Herbie Hancock's "Watermelon Man". They may also draw upon some big band material, perhaps even with a vocalist. Songs like "Fly Me To The Moon" or "The Lady Is A Tramp" may make an appearance.

If you have a particular song choice that you'd like to your band to play, then make sure you consult them in far in advance to allow them to learn and rehearse the piece. It is also important to make sure you specify the version of the song you would like to hear, as many jazz singers or groups will often cover the same song, sometimes in radically different styles.

The Jazz Bands featured on this page are all members of the Last Minute Musicians entertainment directory. Use the refine section at the top of this page to book a jazz band close to you. Simply choose a county or enter a post code into the "available in" box to refine the listings to your local area. Click the "visit listing" button to see the full profiles of the individual Jazz Bands. With over 3300 active listings you are sure to find the perfect entertainer, musician, band or entertainment service to make your wedding or event just perfect. Don`t forget you can use our online chat (below) to get instant help with your booking.

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