Jazz Band what size?

Jazz Band what size? Why do people need different sizes of jazz band? Four main reasons. Cost, space, number of guests and the job to done. You cannot play a Glen Miller Big Band tribute with a banjo and clarinet, even though I have seen an amateur jazz band duo attempt it!

Cost first. Fairly obvious. Skilled performers charge for their time and travel. If your jazz band is too small for the job it is being asked to do because of budget then you cannot blame the musicians if it does not sound quite right. A good jazz band will do their best but will explain to the client what the limitations are with the size of band chosen. Best to look at the other areas you have spent money on. Do you need that many flowers? Will people really spend that much time looking at table decorations? Do you need top brand champagne? Wouldn`t Tescos own do? Ask yourself this question: What is going to make the party go with a bang? ITS THE MUSIC. Ever been to a party where everyone is sitting around looking like they are in a doctors waiting room? The band is wrong. Not even Krug is going to change that and make people dance!!

Space: Do tell the jazz band how much space you can give them and how big the room is. A guitar can sometimes take up less space than a piano and the jazz band can bring smaller speakers for vocals. A pianist who specialises in bass pedals or is skilled at left hand bass can do the job of two musicians if need be.

Number of Guests: The bigger the number of guests the bigger the jazz band. Upto fifty people a three piece jazz band is usually perfect. Up to a hundred we would suggest a four piece, over this figure and a five or even a six piece jazz band is better.

What do you want from the Jazz band? If you want people to dance you need at least three people in your jazz band but prefebly more. If you want some soul music from them then five would be suitable. If you just want a back ground ambience from the jazz band then three would be fine, unless you are in a big room or/and with a lot of guests.