Classic Jazz & Swing

Lush Life

Dinner jazz duo, trio and quartet

Lush Life is perfect for background music during meals and for drinks receptions but it can also play a more prominent roll if required. This saxophone led group, which ranges in size from a duo to a quintet, performs a sophisticated selection of jazz and swing standards made famous by jazz greats such as Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and the Dave Brubeck Quartet. They play many songs from the great song writers of the '30s to '50s such as Jimmy Van Heusen, George and Ira Gershwin, Rodgers and Hart and Cole Porter. With the larger groups, some well chosen songs outside jazz, played in a jazz style, are also possible. The appropriate sized group for your event depends on a number of factors including budget, fullness of sound and the size of your venue. The group has been together since 2001 playing top quality jazz to a wide variety of audiences throughout the South West. They have played for select parties of just 20 people up to groups of over 500 people, at venues such as the English Riviera Centre, Powderham Castle and the Imperial and Grand Hotels, Torquay. Lush Life also form the core of three superb function bands, The Drat Pack, Lush Life with Noelle Rollings and Solar. Lush Life regularly play through a meal or for drinks and then join with the rest of a larger group to provide the evening entertainment, providing a complete package of musical entertainment for your event. Lush Life Duo are also accomplished classical musicians who can play before and during the wedding ceremony. Lush life also make up the core of the Neil Maya Quartet one of the regions leading modern and contemporary jazz outfits.

More information on Lush Life in PDF format

Take Five Duo mp3

Autumn Leaves Trio mp3

The Drat Pack

If you want that classic swing thing by greats such as Frank Sinatra and the rest of the Rat Pack, then The Drat Pack is for you. Swinging such numbers as Fly me to the Moon, The Lady is a Tramp, Come fly with me and the classic New York, New York, this is the band to make your feet tap and to make the dancing swing. The Drat Pack can provide a full evening of swing, but it is not just a jazz band. The Drat Pack plays lots of great motown, soul, funk and more modern tunes to raise the energy as the evening hots up, or if a variety of styles are needed. The Drat Pack is led by Adam Moran on vocals, one of the leading swing singers in the South West. As well as providing after dinner entertainment members of the Drat Pack can form the smaller jazz group called Lush Life, to provide laid-back background music during a meal, or for drinks, essentially providing a complete package of musical entertainment for your event.

More information on The Drat Pack in PDF format

The Lady is a Tramp mp3

Signed Sealed Delivered mp3

Lewis Riley Bands

Lewis' bands are extremely versatile and cover Mainstream/Modern and Latin Jazz.

Music can be gentle for background ambience, or more up tempo for dancing. We can play for weddings, private parties and corporate events. Depending on your needs various ensembles are on offer: Solo piano, Duos of piano, plus sax, vocals, or bass. Trios of piano and bass plus drums, vocals, guitar or sax. Quartets of piano/ /bass/drums plus vocals, sax or guitar. Quintets of piano/bass/drums plus a combination of sax/ guitar/vocals. 12 piece Big Band - vocals, 3 brass, 4 reeds, piano, guitar, bass and drums.

Love for Sale mp3

Corcovado mp3

Le Jazz

Featuring Chris Gradwell on clarinet, saxophone and flute, this quartet of four friends play spontaneous music from all areas of the jazz tradition. Particular influences on the music are Benny Goodman, Sidney Bechet, George Gershwin and Duke Ellington. Classically-trained, Chris also performs and improvises on an arrangement of Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin.

The Steve Chisholm Trio

This trio is a Mainstream Jazz unit, featuring the cool, jazz-based pop of the 40s and onwards (like Frank Sinatra and Mel Torme), and nostalgic songs of the 50s & 60s from Sam Cooke and the Drifters to Buddy Holly and the Beatles. The Trio is vocal-based, with additional brass, guitar, piano or bass.

Art Deco Duos are also available, with vocals/brass backed by either piano or guitar. These are very popular at smaller parties and gatherings.

Art Deco demo - mp3

Elaine Davies Quartet

The Elaine Davies Quartet is comprised of four experienced musicians who are each bandleaders in their own right and have been together as a group for ten years. The Quartet has an extensive repertoire including the music of Fats Waller, Ellington, Cole Porter and Gershwin for a relaxed sophisticated sound. Well-loved jazz standards from ballads to up-tempo jazz-jive numbers are featured mixed with Latin American for dancing or easy listening. Their programme can be tailormade to suit your taste.

Colin Bryant's Hot Rhythm Jazz & Swing Band

Colin Bryant's Hot Rhythm are recognised as one of the finest Jazz and Swing bands playing on the music scene today. The Band specialise in Jazz and Swing Music of the Roaring 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s.

Charlie Hearnshaw Band

Featuring Charlie Hearnshaw on alto saxophone and clarinet, and Andrew Barrett on guitar, this is one of the best bands around, with a repertoire from jazz classics to pop and classical arrangements.

White/Phippen Duo

Clarinet/Sax and piano. This duo originally performed as a classical duo but they soon discovered that they shared an interest in jazz so decided to diversify. Their repertoire includes music from the 1920s, 30s & 40s. They are just as at home playing the music of Duke Ellington, Fats Waller and Benny Goodman as they are playing Mozart, Brahms and Weber.

Pete Canter's Bands

Pete Canter is a fine modern jazz saxophonist based in Devon. He works regularly in top jazz venues leading bands from duos to quintets. Pete has an extensive modern jazz repertoire covering swing, bebop, hard bop, latin, ballads and soul jazz, and he is comfortable playing laid-back cocktail jazz, exciting up-tempo modern jazz or groovy soul-jazz and latin.

Sax & Piano
Sax & Guitar
Sax & Piano & Bass
Sax& Piano & Bass & Drums
Sax & Piano &Bass & Drums & Guitar
Sax & Piano & Bass & Drums & Trumpet

Ellingtonia

Ellingtonia is an eight-piece band playing the music of Duke Ellington, the greatest composer of the swing era.

The music - from the 20s, 30s and 40s - ranges from driving dance numbers to beautiful ballads, from exotic mood pieces to dreamy blues. The repertoire includes Perdido, Caravan, Satin Doll, Mood Indigo and I'm Beginning To See the Light.

With their line up of two saxes, trumpet, trombone, rhythm section and female vocalist, Ellingtonia makes a big sound. Not just another jazz band, their unique arrangements have been specially created to do justice to this extraordinary music.