Don’t fancy Mustang Sally or Moves Like Jagger at your wedding? We have a great selections of live Jazz and Swing bands for hire in Scotland through Freak Music as alternatives, although some may have a bash at those songs…
Blu Velvet play and sing classic jazz and modern songs to a high quality. They delve into the great American Songbook and emerge with tasteful modern arrangements; they cherry-pick the best modern songs from the great singers such as Ella, Nina Simone, Dionne Warwick, Natalie Cole, Norah Jones, Amy Winehouse, Eva Cassidy, Caro Emerald, Adele, and Edi Reader. They also perform traditional and contemporary jazz songs, as well as delightful acoustic versions of Burns, Scottish and other genres as requested. The band features Carol Stirrat on vocals – her voice has delighted audiences with her jazzy/bluesy style and interpretations. The musical arrangements behind her come from Sandy Rosie (keyboard / guitar), supported by Scotland’s top-flight experienced musicians (double bass, guitar, sax,and drums as required).
The Counsellors (above) are a seven piece extravaganza of a band. Their sound is classic lounge, with a twist of lemon, and an extra jigger of dry Vermouth. Comprised of vocals, three horns (trombone, trumpet and sax), guitar, bass and drums, The Counsellors swing (and we mean swing) from all over the world, with members from Australia, Canada, Brazil, Ireland and Scotland. Combine all these finger clickin’ ingredients and you have a veritable fondue of grooves, taking musical titbits from Dusty Springfield, Doris Day, Aretha Franklin, Patsy Cline, Sammy Davis Jnr and…The Carpenters. They are headed by the Delicious Miss B (Becc Sanderson), a singer with a smorgasbord of experience. An award winning performer in her native Australia, her recent triumphs include featured vocalist with the RSNO (Royal Scottish National Orchestra) Kings of Swing Big Band for their Proms performances at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh, and the Royal Glasgow Concert Hall, June 2006.
Kara (right) began her musical career in 1995, covering a variety of musical genres, working with bands on the live circuit and in the studio, before finding her niche in jazz and musical theatre. She spent many years in London, working on the West End stage and with bands as a session singer; Kara then returned to her native Scotland to embark on some musical projects of her own. Influenced by many of the jazz greats such as Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Nina Simone, Kara pays tribute to artists of this bygone era in her own inimitable style, whilst remaining true to the original artists.
Dundee band Havana Swing have been delighting audiences for years with their fiery brand of Gypsy Jazz, reminiscent of Django Reinhardt’s war time line up. Formed In 1986, the band comprises of 3 Guitarists, Clarinet and Double Bass and will take you on a musical journey of Le Hot Club De France through Parisian cafes and Gypsy campfires! Lightning solos coupled with subtle harmonies will leave you in no doubt that this is the real thing and you will quickly notice from the band sound, the obvious energy and musical enjoyment derived from playing in the style of Django Reinhardt.
