Description | Price |
Solo Mon, Tue, Wed, or Thu except bank holidays, New Years Eve, etc. up to 2 hours live playing | £100 |
Solo Friday, Saturday or Sunday, bank holidays, etc. up to 2 hours live playing | £200 |
Duo with pianist or guitarist Mon, Tue, Wed, or Thu except bank holidays, New Years Eve, etc. up to 2 hours live playing | £180 |
Duo with pianist or guitarist Friday, Saturday or Sunday, bank holidays, etc. up to 2 hours live playing | £360 |
I'm always up for ideas! What did you have in mind? | £0 |
Kit Packham is well-known as the leader of 7-piece jive and swing band One Jump Ahead which has a separate page on this platform. He also performs SOLO with backing tracks and in a DUO format with either piano/keyboard or guitar. There is also scope for a TRIO or QUARTET with the addition of bass and/or drums. This variety of set-ups allow him to play virtually anywhere, even where there's very little space to spare.
Kit's repertoire includes all kinds of jazz, vintage pop, rock'n'roll and blues. His humorous re-written lyrics to jazz standards from the Great American Songbook have proved popular (check out "I Can't Get Started" or "Manhattan" on this page's soundclips) as have his own songs, much of which also demonstrate wry humour. Themed sets are possible for World War II, the 1950s, the 1960s, singalongs, easy listening and comic/novelty songs.
When a sophisticated background ambience is required, Kit is happy to play only instrumentals. He frequently does this during welcome drinks or dinner at wedding receptions where One Jump Ahead might be playing later for dancing. In restaurants and bars he'll more usually sing most of the music, covering the rest on either alto or tenor saxophone. These proportions can be easily varied to suit your own particular preferences or situation.
As a professional musician, Kit has public liability insurance and a recent (July 2021) DBS check.
He has his own PA and is available for daytime as well as evening bookings right through the week. Kit also teaches saxophone and improvisation skills and is happy to deputise for singers or saxophonists with other bands, being a capable reader and busker on alto, tenor and baritone.
SPECIAL NOTE ON COVID-19 PRECAUTIONS. While the pandemic was active, some engagements were able to go ahead within the government regulations and guidelines. As a singer/saxophonist Kit couldn't wear a mask while performing, although it was possible for loading in and out of equipment, etc. In the event of a recurrence or any new pandemics, Kit will of course observe any regulations and guidelines in operation.
Based in Caterham, Surrey
NB: THIS IS JUST A SELECTION! A FULL
LIST CAN BE SENT ON REQUEST!
Ain’t Nobody Here But Us Chickens
Ain't That a Kick in the Head
After You've Gone
As Time Goes By
Beyond the Sea
Blueberry Hill
Bring Me Sunshine
Brother Can You Spare a Dime
Brown Eyed Girl
Buona Sera
Bye Bye Blackbird
Chattanooga Choo Choo
Choo Choo Ch’Boogie
Come Fly With Me
Delilah
Don’t Get Around Much Any More
Fly Me to the Moon
Here Comes the Sun
I'm a Believer
I'm In The Mood For Love
Is You Is Or Is You Aint My Baby
It Must Be Love
It's Now Or Never
Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini
I've Got You Under My Skin
Java Jive
Lester Leaps In
Let’s Do It
L-O-V-E
Manhattan
Makin’ Whoopee
Memphis
Misty
My Babe
My Old Man's a Dustman
Need Your Love So Bad
Pennies From Heaven
Pennsylvania 6-5000
Return to Sender
Saturday Night at the Movies
Save the Last Dance for Me
Singin' the Blues
Stompin’ at the Savoy
Summer Holiday
Summertime
Sunny
Sunny Afternoon
Sway
Take the A Train
Teddy Bear
Teenager In Love
Tenor Madness
That'll Be The Day
That's Life
These Foolish Things
Treat Me Nice
Under the Boardwalk
Underneath the Arches
We'll Meet Again
When You Wish Upon a Star
When You're Smiling
White Cilffs of Dover
Yeh Yeh
Yellow Submarine
You Make Me Feel So Young
Your Feets Too Big
A safe mains electricity supply at or close to the stage (or playing floorspace) is normally essential. However, with advance notice, a playlist can be prepared for a small battery operated PA speaker.
Sufficient space in which to play is also a must.
Other factors are negotiable but could include:
Food and drink for Kit (& his accompanist where appropriate)
Parking.
Use of premises own PA system or provision of PA.
Yes, I bring my own PA system, suitable for audiences up to about 250 (but able to operate at a modest volume for small venues/groups). I don't usually provide lighting by default for a solo performance but if you request it I can provide it.
Obviously the full address and postcode is important. The best point of access for loading in and any particular parking requirements are often helpful. Sound limiters are sometimes an issue (very rarely for solo performances). As long as I get a reasonable idea of what to expect there's rarely any issues.
Yes, I can provide my own playlists or I can play yours from an iPod, smartphone, laptop, etc.
In a musical career of over 50 years that's too hard to decide without a lot of thought! I've played almost all the leading West End hotels, the Marquee, the 100 Club, the Vortex jazz club, many great theatres including Belfast Opera House. The most exotic would probably be the Ishtar Sheraton Hotel in Baghdad but I'll have to come back to this question....
Louis Jordan. His hits from the 1940s were the basis of the musical "Five Guys Named Moe", full of fun and swinging saxophone solos. One of his best is "Choo Choo Ch'Boogie" which was a million seller in 1946. Other artists that have inspired me are Ray Charles, Louis Prima, Big Joe Turner, Slim Gaillard and Mose Allison.
I began entertaining as an infant, travelling with my mother as she performed at Darby & Joan clubs, hospitals and similar venues in the late 1950s and early 1960s. She taught me a few songs so that I could "do a turn" for her audiences. As a teenager, I sang in a rock and roll band and taught myslef to play guitar and harmonica. At art college I fronted another rock band and then began to learn the saxophone. This led on to many exciting musical experiences from Bromley to Baghdad!
Anywhere with an appreciative audience is great. Fortunately that applies to almost all my bookings. I get a special kick when one of my own songs inspires people to get up and dance, so I guess that dances would be my favourite.
I'm both! I've been singing ever since I can remember and first performed in public as an infant! I've "only" been playing the saxophone for the last 50 years but I enjoy that just as much as I do singing. Consequently you're in safe hands booking me as "just" a saxophonist or "just" a singer, although I would normally play some solo breaks or similar on sax when booked to perform vocals. However, if you don't like the saxophone, I can perform without it!
Set up time is dependent on ease of access and whether it's a solo, duo or larger booking. Less than 30 minutes in most cases. Possibly just 10 minutes!
Performance times are fully negotiable but are commonly 2 x 45 minutes or 2 x 60 minutes.
That depends! In most cases, yes, and I've often done so. However, if wet weather is occurring or predicted I'd expect a client to provide protection for myself and my equipment from rain, or an alternative location. I'd also need a power supply adjacent to the performance area.
I'm happy to liaise with my clients regarding material. I can provide a list of my usual material from which they can pick any songs or tunes they'd like to hear. Given reasonable notice I'm also prepared to add requests that I've not performed before as long as they're not completely incompatible.
One typical comment was "...classics that get your feet tapping and where you just cant help singing along." Why not check out my reviews, all of which rated me 10/10.
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The Harrow, Ulcombe, Kent
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Westway Centre (formerly Douglas Brunton Centre), Caterham
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The Misty Moon, Northwood
The "Gherkin", London EC3
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The Old School, Noke, Oxon.
The Old Kings Head, Hampton Wick
The Hallmark (formerly Airport) Hotel, Croydon
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Coach & Horses, Carshalton
The Manor Bar & Parlour, Earl's Court
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Horseshoe pub, Warlingham
Nettlestead Care Home, Bromley
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Besins Healthcare (at Cutty Sark, Greenwich)