The Gorillas of Swing
"The Kings of the Swinging Jungle:" A Party Band for Swing Lovers Based in the Dallas-Ft. Worth Area
"The Kings of the Swinging Jungle:" A Party Band for Swing Lovers Based in the Dallas-Ft. Worth Area
(New awesome demos coming soon! Videos below are from a previous incarnation of the band.)
- Classy and elegant, yet can also get the party started as "the kings of the swinging jungle!"
- Wide repertoire to fit your tastes: from the classic crooners to hard-driving big band swing, neo-swing, Latin repertoire, and even modern pop songs re-imagined in a swing style, there's a little something for everyone!
- Dinner Shows: Listen to your favorite crooner songs, instrumental ballads, and other fun & interesting repertoire as you enjoy your dinner or cocktail hour.
- Dance Sets with non-stop music: For swing-lovers, we offer up to four hard-driving non-stop electro-swing dance sets to keep the party going! (Or if you prefer a purely acoustic dance set, we can do that, too!)
"Thank you very much for the music. Our guests were truly impressed. There were many comments about the music, like 'where did you get these musicians??,' 'Very impressive!,' and that they felt transported to another place, as if they were in 1940s New York, and such comments. Thank you very much for the excellent music and for creating such a cool vibe!" (Translated from Spanish)
—Arnoldo Lopez
The Band:
The Gorillas of Swing features a male "crooner" vocalist with 6 horns (3 Saxes, 2 Trumpets, and Trombone) and a 4-piece Rhythm Section (Piano, Guitar, Upright Bass, and Drums). This "mini big band" configuration offers a strong 1940s vibe while being more versatile and affordable than a full big band.
The Gorillas of Swing offers elegant dinner sets followed by high-energy electro-swing (or purely acoustic, if you prefer) dance sets with non-stop music. It's the perfect ensemble for a 1940s themed party, or for those who simply love the music!
The Dinner Set(s):
Hear your favorite crooner standards that were part of the repertoire of Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Michael Bublé, and others, mixed in with timeless instrumental classics like String of Pearls, Stardust, Tuxedo Junction, and more. We even have a selection of Latin repertoire. (See Repertoire below.)
But that's not all: in the spirit of Postmodern Jukebox, and other popular vintage ensembles, we also offer a selection of pop songs arranged in a vintage swing style to spice up your event!
The dinner set offers the flexibility to choose the songs you'd really love to hear, and if it's not in our repertoire, we can add it for a reasonable arranging/rehearsal fee, to be arranged by our bandleader and professional arranger, J. Aaron Stanley.
We offer up to two dinner sets, followed by...
The Dance Set(s):
- Traditional 1930s-40s repertoire. (Up to 2 complete sets.)
- Neo-Swing and Pop re-imagined in a swing style. (1 complete set.)
- Latin repertoire. (1 complete set.)
- Mix of repertoire: traditional, neo-swing, pop (re-imagined in a swing style), and Latin. (Up to 4 complete sets.)
For those who love swing dancing, we offer up to four dance sets with non-stop music made up of favorite standards like In The Mood; Sing, Sing, Sing; Take The A-Train; Caravan; Mambo #5; and much more--even some modern pop and dance standards re-imagined in a swing style!
Taking cues from the popular Top-40 party bands, we've arranged the songs so that each song flows into the next without awkward silences between them.
The dance set can be entirely acoustic for a more authentic period experience... or--to satisfy modern tastes--accompanied by an electro-swing dance beat to create a modern dance club atmosphere, but with a vintage swing vibe.
If you like swing music, you're gonna be over the moon with The Gorillas of Swing, the kings of the swingin' jungle!
We're Jazz Musicians, But We Don't Just "Wing-It."
Hi, I'm Aaron Stanley, the creator, bandleader, solo trumpeter, and arranger for The Gorillas of Swing. I created this band from the ground up to be a vintage style party band with a strong 1940s vibe.
I love this music, so I work hard to select the best repertoire, create interesting and unique arrangements, and hire amazing performers who also love the music. Here's what else you can expect...
No awkward silences: we come prepared with a well-balanced set list (list of songs to play, in order), so there is never an awkward discussion about what to play next. For the dinner show, we bridge the gap between songs as the band changes numbers with anecdotes and humor. For the dance sets, the music is arranged to provide non-stop music from beginning to end, and our DJ is ready to take over the moment the band takes a break between sets.
- More of your favorite songs per set: In addition to being more organized with our set lists, we do shorter, more compact arrangements so you can hear more of your favorite songs per set. (Plus, we aren't limited to our repertoire list. Since I'm a professional arranger, we can play a thrilling version of pretty much any song you want to hear for an extra arranging/rehearsal fee.)
- Professional Quality Sound. In addition to our talented musicians--each of whom are artists in their own right--I've learned from experience that bringing my own professional audio engineer and equipment is critical to ensuring the band always sounds great, is properly balanced, EQ'd properly, and that the sound levels are appropriate for the event. (This is something many other bands of this type don't put enough focus on.)
- Professional vibes. We take seriously the importance of showing up on time, being dressed appropriately for the event, being ready to entertain, and also refraining from alcohol while we're working.
All the above helps insure the best possible experience for everyone involved, from the event planner to the guests. Let The Gorillas of Swing put your mind at ease and create an unforgettable vintage experience for your guests!
The Gorillas of Swing Repertoire:
The Gorillas of Swing Repertoire:
We have approaching 100 songs and instrumental numbers available, with a variety of period songs, neo-swing, Latin repertoire, and pop songs re-imagined in a swing style. If you have a favorite song or tune that you don't see here, we're happy to perform it at your event for an extra arranging/rehearsal fee.
How To Book The Gorillas of Swing
Step 1: Click the button below to inquire about availability & get a quote.
Step 2: If we're available, and a good fit, a 50% deposit and contract will secure the band for your event. The final balance is due a week before the event.
Step 3: Plan your event & select your preferred repertoire! We'll be in touch as the event approaches to make sure you and your guests have an unforgettable vintage musical experience.