The Speakeasy Jazz Orchestra
The Party Band for Unforgettable 1920s Prohibition-Era Themed Events (Based in Dallas-Ft. Worth)
The Party Band for Unforgettable 1920s Prohibition-Era Themed Events (Based in Dallas-Ft. Worth)
(Awesome demos coming soon!)
- Unique, fun, entertaining, and can get the party started with non-stop period-style dance music for Charleston and swing dancing.
- Wide repertoire to fit your tastes: from classic period repertoire (vocal & instrumental) to modern pop re-imagined in a 1920s style.
- Dinner Cabaret: Vocal & instrumental features presenting a mix of musical theater songs, period songs, and modern pop songs. Even features optional dancers!
- Dance Sets with non-stop music: We offer up to four high energy, non-stop dance sets to keep the party going! (Dance sets can be purely acoustic for a more authentic period experience... or, provide an electro-dixie-swing beat for more modern sensibilities, but with a strong 1920s vibe.)
The Speakeasy Jazz Orchestra offers a cabaret-like dinner show followed by a high-energy neo-Dixie-swing dance vibe perfect for a 1920s-themed "Great Gatsby" party... or simply for those who love this style of music!
The Band:
The Speakeasy Jazz Orchestra has a very similar configuration to the Harlem jazz bands of Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, and Fletcher Henderson of the mid to late 1920s. We use 3 Woodwinds (Clarinet, Alto Sax, and Tenor Sax), 3 Brass (2 Trumpets and Trombone), 1 Violin, and 4-Piece Rhythm Section (Piano, Banjo/Guitar, Tuba, and Drums), with a female vocalist dressed as a flapper girl.
[Historical note: as the 1920s progressed, jazz began to evolve from the raucous collective improvisation we now call "Dixieland" (the style of The Dixie Bootleggers) to a more refined style. By the early to mid 1930s, this settled into the full big band instrumentation and swing style that dominated the next 10+ years of popular music.]
The Dinner Cabaret Show:
The Dinner Cabaret Show features up to two 45-minute sets of musical theater numbers, popular songs of the period, instrumental features, modern pop re-imagined in a 1920s style, and optional dancers (tap & Charleston), with anecdotes, skits, and humor filling in the gaps as the band changes numbers.
The band features a mix of popular period songs like Makin' Whoopee, Ain't Misbehavin', and I've Found A New Baby, along with period instrumental hits like The Mooche, East St. Louis Toodle-Oo, and Charleston, as well as more modern songs arranged in the style like All About That Bass, Love Yourself, Careless Whisper, and others.
The dinner sets offer the flexibility to choose the songs you'd really love to hear, and if it's not in our repertoire, we can add it (assuming it is adaptable to the style) for a reasonable arranging/rehearsal fee, to be arranged by our Music Director and professional arranger, J. Aaron Stanley.
Between band sets, the audio engineer will play period recordings, or electro-dixie-swing tracks, to avoid awkward silences between sets, if desired.
Scroll down to check out our Dinner Cabaret repertoire.
The Dance Set(s):
The Dance Set(s):
For those who love to dance the Charleston--or just move your body to some "hot jazz"--we can present up to three entire dance sets of non-stop music made up of favorite standards like Charleston, That's A Plenty, St. Louis Blues, Crazy Rhythm, Puttin' on the Ritz, and much more--plus some modern pop songs and dance standards re-imagined in a 1920s 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, or with an electronic sequence that provides an electro-swing dance beat to create a more modern club atmosphere with a vintage dixie-swing vibe.
If you want a full-on Roaring 20s/Great Gatsby/Jazz Age party that pulls all the stops, The Speakeasy Jazz Orchestra is the obvious choice to get the party started and sustain it until the cops arrive to raid the joint!
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 Speakeasy Jazz Orchestra. I created this band from the ground up to be a 1920s style party band (with some optional modern dance beats) that provides an unforgettable vintage experience.
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 Cabaret Show, we bridge the gap between songs as the band changes numbers with anecdotes, humor, and skits. For the dance sets, the music is arranged to provide non-stop music from beginning to end, and our audio engineer is ready to take over with a pre-selected play-list 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 Speakeasy Jazz Orchestra put your mind at ease and create an unforgettable vintage experience for your guests!
The Speakeasy Jazz Orchestra Repertoire
The Dinner Cabaret Show:
The Dinner Cabaret Show is a purely acoustic Cabaret-style show with vocal and instrumental features, and optional dancers. We generally perform 1-2 dinner sets before moving to the dance sets.
Dance Set(s) (with Optional Electro-Dixie-Swing Beat):
We come prepared with well-balanced set lists that include a variety of repertoire and opportunities for both swing/lindy hop and Charleston dancing in each set.
However, if you prefer to select your own songs, we recommend a relatively even mix between medium-fast versus fast tempo songs (swing/lindy hop versus Charleston), as well as balancing instrumental versus vocal numbers and period songs versus modern pop songs. Our sets include 5 medium-fast and 6 uptempo songs.
Medium-Fast Tempo Songs for East Coast Swing & Lindy Hop Dancing:
Medium-Fast Tempo Songs for East Coast Swing & Lindy Hop Dancing:
Uptempo Songs for Dancing the Charleston:
Uptempo Songs for Dancing the Charleston:
How To Book The Speakeasy Jazz Orchestra
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.