|
|
If you are interested in jazz or chamber music for a private or public event, feel free to contact me for a discussion. I organise live music for all kinds of organisations and individuals and have an extensive list of clients I've worked for over the years. Nothing is too small or too big! The most common configuration I use is a jazz trio and sometimes a quartet. I also play in duo formats very regularly. You can get a lot of value for your money with any one of these small-group configurations.
Although many musicians dislike playing weddings, they are somewhat of a specialty for me and I always try and go out of my way to make the big day extra-special and hassle-free for the couple. One of the unique things I can offer is classical and jazz music using a single trio. We typically use flute, classical guitar and double bass for the classical component and then switch to tenor sax/clarinet, jazz guitar and bass for the jazz component. This also works very well for other kinds of events besides weddings.
RatesMy approach to booking is simple and straighforward. You deal directly me with. There are no agencies and I take no leader's fees from the musicians. I use a simple, plain English contract although I can dispense with this for established clients or really simple situations. You pay 25% as a deposit and the remainder on the day of the performance. All musicians I play with are members of the local musicians' union.
The fees I quote are towards the higher end of the scale but very reasonable. I never compete with others on the basis of price as there will always be someone willing to do a job for less. Essentially, you get what you pay for. Although I will not negotiate my rates to compete with others, I am willing to discount if there is a suitable opportunity to promote the Impressions in Jazz Orchestra or an upcoming IJO event. This often works well for the client too as you get to associate a classy, professional ensemble with your event.
MusiciansWhen I put together an ensemble for any kind of event, my aim is to bring together a group of the best possible musicians given the schedule and the budget. I have an extensive set of first call musicians upon which to draw on, many of whom with play with the Impressions in Jazz Orchestra and/or many of the other professional bands and orchestras in town.
When it comes to the jazz, there is a huge difference between experienced and not-so-experienced musicians. Experienced, skilled musicians can play almost anything thrown at them and can adapt to almost any situation. They can read the room, take requests and respond appropriately. In jazz, spontaneity, creativity and energy are vital elements and good musicians can create that vibe no matter what the situation. That's real jazz as opposed to a live jukebox that you often get with formulated groups that perform packaged material.
Sound SamplesOccasionally people ask me for sound samples. I don't have any sound samples for small groups simply because I don't believe sound samples do a very good job of representing the kind of dynamic performance capability described above. More specifically, it is easy to put together a canned performance that sounds polished but the performers may have no ability to deliver in a live environment. If you want to be impressed by sound samples, visit the Impressions in Jazz Orchestra website where you'll find audio and video samples that will knock your socks off. While it not may be representative of the sound of a small group, it's indicative of the calibre of the musicians I employ for any event.