Swing, standards and soul - the room-friendly band
Hire Jazz Bands
Jazz trios, quartets and swing bands for UK weddings, drinks receptions, dinners and corporate evenings - live sound at a volume guests can talk over.
Updated 21 October 2026
Where to Book Jazz Bands
A jazz band is the live act that works while people talk: a drinks reception, a wedding breakfast, a corporate dinner or a hotel bar. The usual line-up is a trio (piano or guitar, double bass, drums), a quartet that adds sax, trumpet or a singer, or a 5-piece swing band for a dance set after dinner. Most jazz acts can play quietly for the first sets and lift the tempo once the dancing starts, which is why bookers often use one band for the whole evening. For a full party-band evening see function bands, for the ceremony itself see string quartets.
Booking Playbook
Wedding drinks receptions · Wedding breakfasts · Cocktail hours · Corporate dinners · Hotel bars. Here’s the practical version, not the marketing one.
| When to BookSummer Saturdays and December go first - book 6-12 months ahead for a peak wedding date and 2-3 months for a corporate dinner. Weeknight and off-season bookings can often be made a few weeks out. See how far ahead to book for lead times by event type. |
| What Format WorksTypical shape: 2 or 3 sets of 40-60 minutes with short breaks, background volume early and a livelier final set. A drinks-reception booking is often 60-90 minutes on its own. Confirm three things before you book: whether the act brings its own PA (a trio in a small room often plays unamplified), the space it needs (a piano trio needs room for a keyboard or a house piano), and whether there is a singer - many jazz trios are instrumental unless you ask. |
| Mistakes to Avoid1. Wrong size for the room. A trio suits a reception or a restaurant, a 5-piece suits a dancefloor - match the line-up to the job, not the budget alone. 2. No singer when you wanted one. Many jazz trios are instrumental - say if you want vocals. 3. Forgetting the piano. A piano trio needs a keyboard or a house piano - confirm which. 4. One act, two jobs, no plan. If the band covers the reception AND the evening, agree the set times and the switch in volume in the contract. 5. No contract. Get the times, fee, PA and cancellation terms in writing - every GigXchange booking comes with a contract you both sign. |
Pick Your Line-up
What each size of act is, and what it suits.
| Solo and duoA jazz singer or a pianist on their own, or a duo such as piano and vocals, guitar and vocals or guitar and sax. Suits: Drinks receptions, dinners, restaurants and hotel bars, small rooms and tight budgets. |
| TrioUsually piano or guitar, double bass and drums - the classic jazz line-up, often instrumental. Suits: Cocktail hours and wedding breakfasts: a full live sound that still sits under conversation. |
| QuartetA trio plus a lead voice - sax, trumpet or a singer - so there is a melody and a front person. Suits: A room that wants to watch the band, and receptions that move on to an evening set. |
| Swing or big band (5+)Five or more players with a horn section, built for swing and dancing. Suits: Evening dance sets, themed parties (1920s, Rat Pack) and large corporate events. |
Jazz Bands by Occasion
A set plan for each kind of booking, and what to agree.
| Drinks reception or cocktail hourOne set of 45-60 minutes at background volume while guests arrive. Agree: The start time, where the band sets up and whether it needs to move rooms afterwards. |
| Wedding breakfast or dinnerTwo sets of 40-45 minutes between courses, quiet enough to talk over. Agree: Breaks around the speeches, a meal for the band and the volume limit. |
| Evening dance setTwo or three livelier sets of 45-60 minutes - a quartet or a swing band. Agree: The first-dance song, the finish time and any noise limit at the venue. |
| Corporate dinner or awardsBackground sets through the drinks and the dinner, sometimes a walk-on for awards. Agree: Dress code, load-in times and who supplies the PA. |
| Restaurant or hotel bar nightA regular evening slot, often a solo pianist or a duo. Agree: A run of dates in one contract and the set length each night. |
What Does It Cost?
UK fees by occasion and line-up, all genres - the live GX Index (middle half of recorded fees).
| Pub / barFull band · Solo £162–£325 · Duo £250–£500 | £275–£1,125 |
| WeddingFull band · Solo £240–£450 · Duo £443–£792 | £729–£1,907 |
| CorporateFull band · Solo £278–£469 · Duo £446–£1,020 | £669–£1,708 |
| Private partyFull band · Solo £250–£542 · Duo £250–£500 | £500–£1,210 |
| Festival (30–45 min)Full band · Solo TBC · Duo TBC | £200–£1,783 |
Repertoire & Format
What this performer type actually delivers — by category, with real examples.
Swing and standards
| Fly Me to the Moon - Frank Sinatra with Count Basie, 1964 · 2:30 |
| The Way You Look Tonight - Fred Astaire, 1936 · 3:07 |
| Cheek to Cheek - Fred Astaire, 1935 |
| Ain’t That a Kick in the Head - Dean Martin, 1960 · 2:25 |
| It Had to Be You - Harry Connick Jr., 1989 · 2:38 |
Bossa nova and Latin
| The Girl from Ipanema - Stan Getz and João Gilberto, 1964 · 5:18 |
| Corcovado - Stan Getz and João Gilberto, 1964 · 4:15 |
| Blue Bossa - Joe Henderson with Kenny Dorham, 1963 · 8:02 |
Soul and modern songs, jazz-arranged
| Valerie - Mark Ronson featuring Amy Winehouse, 2007 · 3:39 |
| Feeling Good - Nina Simone, 1965 · 2:57 |
| Sway - Dean Martin, 1954 · 2:44 |
| Moondance - Van Morrison, 1970 · 4:37 |
Instrumental classics
| Take Five - The Dave Brubeck Quartet, 1959 · 5:27 |
| So What - Miles Davis, 1959 · 9:25 |
| Autumn Leaves - Cannonball Adderley, 1958 · 11:06 |
Where Jazz Bands Get Booked
UK venues, events, and occasions where this format consistently works.
Weddings
| Drinks receptions and cocktail hours |
| Wedding breakfasts and dinner sets |
| Garden and marquee receptions (acoustic trio) |
Corporate and private
| Corporate dinners and awards drinks |
| Hotel bars and restaurant residencies |
| Birthday, anniversary and garden parties |
Licensed venues
| Pub and bar jazz nights |
| Restaurant music evenings |
How to Book on GIGXCHANGE
Three steps. About five minutes from signup to first booking.
| 01 | FindFind acts or post your gigBrowse acts by sound, line-up and area, or post your date free - date, venue, genre, budget and set length - and acts apply. The listing is live immediately, visible to every artist in the GigXchange network. |
| 02 | ShortlistReview applicationsArtists apply with profile, tracks, reviews and availability all visible. Start a direct chat with shortlisted acts to confirm details before committing. |
| 03 | BookingBook and pay securelyOnce the fee's signed off, a digital contract is auto-generated for both parties. Funds are held securely via Stripe until the gig is complete. |
Booking for a private party rather than a venue? Start with GigXchange for organisers.
11 — Questions7 answersFrequently asked questions
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Costs & RatesLive
What jazz bands cost in 2026. Realistic 2026 fees before you book.
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The Booking PlaybookFree
When to book, what works, what to avoid. The practical version — timing, formats and mistakes to avoid.
When to book (and when prices spike)
What lineup and format works
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Mistakes that cost real money
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Ready to Book a jazz band?
Post a gig for free, no card on file. Membership is free, and we are keeping it free permanently for the first 250 sign-ups.
Hire Jazz Bands
Jazz trios, quartets and swing bands for UK weddings, drinks receptions, dinners and corporate evenings - live sound at a volume guests can talk over.
Last updated: 21 October 2026
Where to Book Jazz Bands
GIGXCHANGE is where you book jazz bands direct in the UK. 78 jazz musicians and bands are on the platform - 15 of them trios and bands, the rest solo and duo acts, booked for wedding drinks receptions, wedding breakfasts, cocktail hours, corporate dinners and hotel bars. Listen to each act on their profile, message them before you commit, and every booking comes with a contract you both sign. GigXchange takes 0% of the artist's booking fee, and the booking fee is 5% on top only when you pay through GigXchange – 0% when you settle privately.
A jazz band is the live act that works while people talk: a drinks reception, a wedding breakfast, a corporate dinner or a hotel bar. The usual line-up is a trio (piano or guitar, double bass, drums), a quartet that adds sax, trumpet or a singer, or a 5-piece swing band for a dance set after dinner. Most jazz acts can play quietly for the first sets and lift the tempo once the dancing starts, which is why bookers often use one band for the whole evening. For a full party-band evening see function bands, for the ceremony itself see string quartets.
Meet the Acts
Real member profiles you can listen to, message and book direct - 15 trios and bands, the rest solo and duo acts.
Browse Jazz Musicians and Bands
All 78 jazz musicians and bands on GigXchange. Filter by line-up and region, then open a profile to listen and message.
Pick Your Line-up
What each size of act is, and what it suits. Fees for each line-up are in the live table below.
- Solo and duoA jazz singer or a pianist on their own, or a duo such as piano and vocals, guitar and vocals or guitar and sax.Suits: Drinks receptions, dinners, restaurants and hotel bars, small rooms and tight budgets.
- TrioUsually piano or guitar, double bass and drums - the classic jazz line-up, often instrumental.Suits: Cocktail hours and wedding breakfasts: a full live sound that still sits under conversation.
- QuartetA trio plus a lead voice - sax, trumpet or a singer - so there is a melody and a front person.Suits: A room that wants to watch the band, and receptions that move on to an evening set.
- Swing or big band (5+)Five or more players with a horn section, built for swing and dancing.Suits: Evening dance sets, themed parties (1920s, Rat Pack) and large corporate events.
Not sure which to pick?
Tell the act the room, the guest numbers and what the music is for - drinks, dinner or dancing - and they will suggest a line-up. Post your date free on GIGXCHANGE and jazz musicians and bands of every size can apply.
Jazz Bands by Occasion
A set plan for each kind of booking, and what to agree with the act before the day.
- Drinks reception or cocktail hourOne set of 45-60 minutes at background volume while guests arrive.Agree: The start time, where the band sets up and whether it needs to move rooms afterwards.
- Wedding breakfast or dinnerTwo sets of 40-45 minutes between courses, quiet enough to talk over.Agree: Breaks around the speeches, a meal for the band and the volume limit.
- Evening dance setTwo or three livelier sets of 45-60 minutes - a quartet or a swing band.Agree: The first-dance song, the finish time and any noise limit at the venue.
- Corporate dinner or awardsBackground sets through the drinks and the dinner, sometimes a walk-on for awards.Agree: Dress code, load-in times and who supplies the PA.
- Restaurant or hotel bar nightA regular evening slot, often a solo pianist or a duo.Agree: A run of dates in one contract and the set length each night.
Put it in writing
Whatever the occasion, agree the times, the sets and the fee in the chat - every booking on GIGXCHANGE comes with a contract you both sign.
Booking Playbook
Wedding drinks receptions · Wedding breakfasts · Cocktail hours · Corporate dinners · Hotel bars. Here’s the practical version, not the marketing one.
When to Book
Summer Saturdays and December go first - book 6-12 months ahead for a peak wedding date and 2-3 months for a corporate dinner. Weeknight and off-season bookings can often be made a few weeks out. See how far ahead to book for lead times by event type.
What Format Works
Typical shape: 2 or 3 sets of 40-60 minutes with short breaks, background volume early and a livelier final set. A drinks-reception booking is often 60-90 minutes on its own. Confirm three things before you book: whether the act brings its own PA (a trio in a small room often plays unamplified), the space it needs (a piano trio needs room for a keyboard or a house piano), and whether there is a singer - many jazz trios are instrumental unless you ask.
Mistakes to Avoid
1. Wrong size for the room. A trio suits a reception or a restaurant, a 5-piece suits a dancefloor - match the line-up to the job, not the budget alone. 2. No singer when you wanted one. Many jazz trios are instrumental - say if you want vocals. 3. Forgetting the piano. A piano trio needs a keyboard or a house piano - confirm which. 4. One act, two jobs, no plan. If the band covers the reception AND the evening, agree the set times and the switch in volume in the contract. 5. No contract. Get the times, fee, PA and cancellation terms in writing - every GigXchange booking comes with a contract you both sign.
What Do UK Gigs Actually Pay?
Real UK fee ranges from 4,234 recorded fees in the GX Index
| Solo | Duo | Full Band | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pub / bar | £162–£325 | £250–£500 | £275–£1,125 |
| Wedding | £240–£450 | £443–£792 | £729–£1,907 |
| Corporate | £278–£469 | £446–£1,020 | £669–£1,708 |
| Private party | £250–£542 | £250–£500 | £500–£1,210 |
| Festival (30–45 min) | TBC | TBC | £200–£1,783 |
Repertoire & Format
What this performer type actually delivers — by category, with real examples.
Swing and standards
- Fly Me to the MoonFrank Sinatra with Count Basie, 1964 · 2:30
- The Way You Look TonightFred Astaire, 1936 · 3:07
- Cheek to CheekFred Astaire, 1935
- Ain’t That a Kick in the HeadDean Martin, 1960 · 2:25
- It Had to Be YouHarry Connick Jr., 1989 · 2:38
Bossa nova and Latin
- The Girl from IpanemaStan Getz and João Gilberto, 1964 · 5:18
- CorcovadoStan Getz and João Gilberto, 1964 · 4:15
- Blue BossaJoe Henderson with Kenny Dorham, 1963 · 8:02
Soul and modern songs, jazz-arranged
- ValerieMark Ronson featuring Amy Winehouse, 2007 · 3:39
- Feeling GoodNina Simone, 1965 · 2:57
- SwayDean Martin, 1954 · 2:44
- MoondanceVan Morrison, 1970 · 4:37
Instrumental classics
- Take FiveThe Dave Brubeck Quartet, 1959 · 5:27
- So WhatMiles Davis, 1959 · 9:25
- Autumn LeavesCannonball Adderley, 1958 · 11:06
Requests, first dances and setlists
Most acts will learn a request or two if you ask early - a first dance, a family favourite or a walk-on song. Ask in the chat on GIGXCHANGE before you book, so the act confirms it in writing, and listen to the tracks and setlists many acts publish on their profile first.
Where Jazz Bands Get Booked
UK venues, events, and occasions where this format consistently works.
Weddings
- Drinks receptions and cocktail hours
- Wedding breakfasts and dinner sets
- Garden and marquee receptions (acoustic trio)
Corporate and private
- Corporate dinners and awards drinks
- Hotel bars and restaurant residencies
- Birthday, anniversary and garden parties
Licensed venues
- Pub and bar jazz nights
- Restaurant music evenings
Booking for one of these rooms?
Every room is different. Tell the act the venue, the room size, the power and the load-in time, and agree the finish - then put it all in the contract you both sign on GIGXCHANGE.
How to Book on GIGXCHANGE
Three steps. About five minutes from signup to first booking.
Find acts or post your gig
Browse acts by sound, line-up and area, or post your date free - date, venue, genre, budget and set length - and acts apply. The listing is live immediately, visible to every artist in the GigXchange network.
Review applications
Artists apply with profile, tracks, reviews and availability all visible. Start a direct chat with shortlisted acts to confirm details before committing.
Book and pay securely
Once the fee's signed off, a digital contract is auto-generated for both parties. Funds are held securely via Stripe until the gig is complete.
Booking for a private party rather than a venue? Start with GigXchange for organisers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Book a jazz band?
Post a gig for free, no card on file. Membership is free, and we are keeping it free permanently for the first 250 sign-ups.