Popular Swing/Jazz Quartets consist of:

• saxophone/clarinet/flute, piano, string bass, drums
• trumpet, piano, string bass, drums

Do you want vocals? If so, male or female? In some of the ensembles, one of the musicians can sing.

The above groups can perform jazz as background music and swing and big band selections for the dancing period. They can perform any style of ballroom dancing from fox-trots to waltzes to sambas, etc.

For more of a Big Band sound...
we recommend a group with at least two horns. Our largest Big Band Orchestras perform with eighteen musicians. Do you want a band that plays strictly Big Band or would you prefer a band that can play a lot of Big Band but later in the evening include Motown, Fifties Rock and Disco, for example? The answers to these options, as well as availability, may determine which band you select.

MSE also provides orchestras for National and Regional Acts.

Sample, but not inclusive, song lists are available for each band. This will give you a good idea of the overall repertoire for each band. If a favorite song is not on the list, that does not mean that the band does not play the song. However, if the song is not in their repertoire, they will learn the song for you. We require that you notify us of your song requests at least four weeks prior to your event date. This will guarantee that the band will have ample time to learn new songs for you if needed.

A member of the band can act as a master of ceremonies. As instructed by you, the emcee will make announcements/introductions exactly as specified. If you do not want any announcements, then none will be made.