Jazz Trios - for your Event

About Jazz Trios

Jazz Trios

“I really want a jazz trio for our party/reception “ But do you really know what you want, what it sounds like, and whether it fits the occasion?

Jazz trios come in many forms, the classic line up being piano, bass and drums. As a smooth background sound, this trio is perfect for any occasion. But of course there is a whole variety of trio combinations of three instruments, giving variety, tone colour and style that are worth considering. Maybe you once heard a jazz trio and liked it. So, what was playing, what sound attracted you, and what sort of repertoire was being played? Were there vocals or just instrumental music? What sort of atmosphere do you want for your function?

Trios really need a harmony instrument such as a piano or guitar as a basis, but can then add other instruments for variety and range of sounds. If you like the sound of a clarinet, or saxophone or trumpet, then that can add to the mix, so that a piano/bass/clarinet might be just what you are looking for. It is worth “youtubing” jazz trios, to see what range of sounds are out there.

You also need to consider the nature of your event. if you have invited folks from all over who wish to talk and meet up then they don't want to be deafened by loud music. Do you want to set out the actual playlist, with names of tunes, or are you happy to take what the trio offers within a certain style or period eg do you want sounds from a particular era, or a wide range of music?

It is always worth asking the venue about their experience of what works well, and what doesn't work at all. It may be that the venue offers outside space such as a courtyard and you want the music out there if it's good weather, or else there may be an ideal corner inside where trios and small bands always set up because it seems to work best there.

Talk to the trio as well. If you want them to be able to move locations, say from outside to inside if it starts raining, then they need to know that in advance so that it works smoothly. You also need to decide if there are particular tunes and songs that you want and agree this well in advance. What trios won't really appreciate is having last minute emails and calls throughout the days leading up to the function constantly changing what you want played. If there are special tunes that you really want to hear, then make sure that the trio knows, and if you want everyone to hear them, the it's worth agreeing a spot during the function when these melodies are played. You don't want to be talking to people outside while your favourite request is being played inside, for example!

Resources

Here are some interesting resources on the history and performance of Jazz:

HISTORY OF JAZZ FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF FIDDLE PLAYER
Origins of Jazz
JAZZ AND FOLK MUSIC.
Formal notation of jazz
The origins of spirituals in jazz
Printed music versus tradition in jazz
Rhythmic Elements of Jazz
Emphasis in Jazz Rhythms
Emotions and Jazz Rhythms
Sections of a Jazz Band
Jazz Pollyrhythm
The Big Jazz Band - the Jazz Orchestra
The Standardised Jazz Orchestra
Commercial Jazz Band Orchestration
The Psychology of Jazz Band Syncopation
Tap Dancing & the Jazz Band
The Jazz Band & Indo Jazz Fusion
Blues and Transforming Jazz into an Art Form
The Jazz Band in the American Psych

Bebop & Hard Bop Jazz
Jazz Big Bands
Duke Ellington - Jazz Composer
Free Jazz & Modern Jazz
Jazz-Rock Fusion
Jazz Timeline
Louis Armstrong - Instrumentalist and Vocalist
Miles Davis - the great inventor
Jazz from New Orleans to Chicago
Ragtime