Frequently Asked Questions

How many people are in the band and what’s the instrumentation?
We most often play as a 4-piece band, consisting of trumpet, piano, bass and drums. But we can very easily scale down to a duo or trio, or add a vocalist and/or other horns should you desire.

Can we have a smaller band? Larger band? Singer?
Yes! You tell me what you want and I’ll find the best musicians for the job.

Are all the band members professionals?
Yes. I only work with the most talented and professional musicians. All the members of my band have been playing weddings for years and are committed to making your day one to remember.

How long has your band played together?
I’ve been playing with Josh for 4 years now and with Evan and Dvonne for two years. We have played hundreds of wedding together and separately.

What types of music do you play?
We are primarily a jazz band that plays the standards from the 40’s-60’s. Think Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis and Duke Ellington and you’ll get the idea. However, we do stretch out from time to time and play some R&B (Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin), some funk (Herbie Hancock, Tower of Power), and some rock (Van Morrison, Michael Jackson).

Do you take requests?
We do take requests, within reason. We’re happy to hear what your favorite songs are, and we’ll play them if we can.

Will you learn new tunes we request?
We will certainly do our best to accommodate you. The sooner you can get your requests to me the easier it’ll be for us learn them and do them justice.

Can my dad/sister/best friend play guitar/sax/sing with the band?
We’d rather not be surprised by this request the day of the wedding, but this can be a really fun treat for your family and friends, and we’re happy to talk to you ahead of time to set this up.

Can we hear you play before we book you?
We play in clubs, restaurants and bars all the time and would love for you to come see us play live. In fact, I prefer if you do because I want you to see how much fun we have when we play! Scroll back up to the top of the page and you’ll see our performance schedule on the right-hand side.

Can we meet you before the event?
I prefer to meet with the bride and groom and/or party planner at least once before the event to get a idea of your personalities and the overall feeling you want to create for the day. This helps me determine the best play list for your big day. If we haven’t met sooner, I like to sit down with you (and your coordinator, if you have one) about a month before the day to go over the schedule and details.

Do you have references we can call?
I am more than happy to put you in touch with some of my past clients. Just ask!

What if we want people to dance?
Oh, we’ll get the people dancing all right! We have played hundreds of weddings/parties and know how to read the room. When we need to be background music we’ll stay out of the way and provide the ambiance. When we need to get the party started, we’ll ramp up the energy!

How long do you typically play?
Most of the events we play are in the 3- to 5-hour range. We have a minimum 2-hour charge, since it does take us time to set-up and tear down. And we will play longer than 5 hours if your party is going to swing long into the night.

How many breaks do you take and now long are they?
In a typical 4 hour performance we’ll take 2-4 breaks of 10-20 minutes each. We will work with your schedule, and break at appropriate times. We try to break at natural times during the event, such as toasts, cake cutting, speeches, etc. But out goal is to be playing at all the right times, so it always feels like there is live music happening.

What happens when you take a break?
I always bring my iPod to plug into our PA System or the house sound system. It is loaded with all sorts of great jazz music. If you’d like to bring your own, that’s fine too. Either way, we’ll keep the music playing and the mood up unless you require otherwise.

How do you dress?
We always wear dark suits and ties and look professional and polished.

Will you play for our ceremony?
Absolutely! We most often play ceremonies with just the piano and trumpet, but that’s up to you. We will work with you to plan out your ceremony music, and are happy to play the classics or something more personal.

Will you Emcee?
I Emcee more than half of the events we play, and I’m happy to do so. I spent many years as a radio disc jockey and am very comfortable on the mic. I will work with you and your coordinator to keep things on schedule.

How much time do you need for set-up?
It takes us under 45 minutes to set up. We’ll make sure we are set up and out of the way at least 15 minutes before your first guest arrives.

Do you charge for set-up time?
No.  All set-up and tear down time is included in our fee. Our charge begins when we play the first note and ends when we play the last.

Can you provide a PA System?
Yes, we do have a PA System we are happy to bring if necessary. There is a small fee for the transport and use.

Do we need to provide any equipment?
No, we will bring all the equipment we need. If there is a piano at the venue Josh would love to use it, but he’ll be prepared with an electric piano if there isn’t one.

How loud are you?
We are not a loud band. Since we play primarily jazz even Grandma will find our volume acceptable. But when it’s time to kick the party into high gear, we can raise the energy without raising the volume to uncomfortable levels.

Do we need to feed you?
Yes, please! Your big day is often a long one for us too. But there’s no need to give us the prime rib or lobster. Just something to tide us over and a beverage keep us hydrated.

Will you travel?
We love to travel and play new places. If we have to drive more than 30 miles from Seattle there will be a small travel fee. But if you want to take us to Paris or Bermuda with you, that’s OK with us!

Why live music?
This is a question that I’m often asked. While it’s true that there are lots of wonderful DJ’s out there, or your iPod for that matter, nothing can beat the energy and excitement provided by a live band. Live music is just that – live! And we pride ourselves on bringing our joy and passion to enhance your special day, which should be a celebration of life and love. We are consistently told by brides and grooms that our music made their day into something special. We want your guests to be talking about your wedding day for years to come, and will do everything we can to help.

If you still have questions, don’t hesitate to email me. I’ll get back to you just as soon as I can.