Don Steele specialises in the “traditional” jazz, championed in the UK by bands such as Kenny Ball, Alex Welsh and Chris Barber. The band’s repertoire of over 400 tunes covers all the classics of New Orleans, and the riverboat jazz which took the music up the Mississippi to St Louis and beyond. The band features Don on trumpet with the other three band members on saxophone/clarinet, banjo and sousaphone. This line-up is completely acoustic and completely mobile making it perfect for garden parties and other outdoor events. This versatility has also made the band a popular feature at indoor venues where the band needs to move around or set up quickly, such as the London Transport Museum, where the band regularly appears on the top deck of a vintage bus!
Our quoted price is for the four-piece band, but the band can go up to five or six pieces by including drummer and trombone. They can also provide a trio (Don with piano or guitar and bass) playing “smoother” swing-style jazz more suitable for providing relaxed background music at receptions and cocktail parties. The band would expect to stay for up to four hours at an engagement, during which time they would play for around three hours. A longer booking can also be arranged.
Don and his co-members are all highly experienced jazz musicians and the band has played at top venues in London and further afield, including The Dorchester, The Café Royal and The Ritz. They have provided the entertainment at numerous weddings, parties and corporate functions and have played at Henley Regatta, the American Embassy in London and the Australian High Commission.
For larger events, the band can provide a full PA system (included in the price) and for a small extra charge can also play CDs during their breaks.
Price: from £500
Don Steele is London based
click here for details of travel costs, etc
