Hire Orlando Jazz Band
Looking to hire an Orlando jazz band? Here are some helpful tips. There are many kinds of jazz bands that come in many sizes. Depending on the details for your event and the mood you would like to create, these descriptions and tips will help you hire the Orlando jazz band that will be the best choice for your event or wedding. Orlando’s Music Remembrance provides all of the jazz bands below and more.

Sizes and styles of Orlando Jazz Bands
Small Jazz Bands-Hire Orlando Jazz Band
A small band is usually from two to five musicians. A small jazz band is sometimes called a small jazz ensemble or a jazz combo. Different combos play different types of jazz or a mixture of styles.
Dixieland Jazz Band
This small jazz band is perfect for 1920’s, Great Gatsby, New Orleans and Casino themed events. It is also great for “wake up my business convention”, events wanting some fun energetic music, parades and New Orleans funerals.
Orlando Dixieland Bands performs 1920’s style jazz. They are often referred to by these names:
- New Orleans Jazz Band
- Traditional Jazz Band
- Great Gatsby Jazz Band or Great Gatsby Jazz Orchestra (when called this Great Gatsby costumes are normally worn)
- Brass Band
- New Orleans Brass Band
- Society Jazz Orchestra
When used for funerals the same bands are also referred to by these names:
- New Orleans Funeral Band
- New Orleans Funeral Processional Band
- Dixieland Parade Band
- Funeral Processional Band
- Dixieland Funeral Band
Dixieland Jazz Bands comes in different sizes. These are the most popular:
- Smallest: Trumpet, Tuba or Upright String Bass, Piano or Banjo
- Small: Trumpet, Tuba or Upright String Bass, Piano or Banjo, Trombone
- Medium: Trumpet, Tuba or Upright String Bass, Piano or Banjo, Trombone, Drums or Clarinet
- Full Tradition Band: Trumpet, Tuba or Upright String Bass, Piano or Banjo, Trombone, Drums and Clarinet
Note – For dixieland bands performing for a parade:
- Snare drum replaces piano, banjo or accordion
- Add a bass drum for a full parade band
- Tuba replaces upright string bass
Mardi Gras Band
This band is perfect for New Orleans, Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday themed events and parties
People call a Dixieland band used for mardi gras events a mardi gras band. Some mardi gras bands play Cajun influenced music or zydeco music in addition to or instead of dixieland jazz. Some mardi gras bands use accordion to give a New Orleans Cajun flair. Otherwise, the instrumentation is the same as dixieland bands. Mardi gras bands perform for Fat Tuesday parties and parades. In mardi gras bands performing for a parade, snare drum replaces piano, banjo or accordion and they usually add a bass drum. Different names for mardi gras bands:
- Mardi Gras Band
- Mardi gras parade band or second line band
- New Orleans parade band
- Zydeco band
- Cajun Jazz band
- Parade brass band
- Brass Band
- New Orleans parade band
Swing Band
Swing Bands are great for themed WWII era events, dancing and assisted living concerts.
These jazz bands come in small size and big band sizes. They play music from the swing era and retro-swing or jump swing music like Jump, Jive and Wail. A traditional instrumentation is singer, trumpet, trombone, saxophone, piano, upright string bass and drums.
Jazz Combo
Some small jazz bands play a variety of music or just one of the many jazz styles. These bands are great for wedding cocktail music, background music for dinner or events and assisted living concerts.
- Cool jazz – a mellow sounding jazz style
- Bebop jazz – a virtuosic jazz club or concert style jazz
- Jazz Fusion – a mix of rock styles and jazz. Some jazz fusion bands perform pop songs with jazz saxophone, trumpet and/or trombone
- Variety small jazz band plays a mix of all jazz styles including swing. They leave out bebop jazz unless the event is a concert.
People also refer to small jazz bands as:
- jazz combos
- small jazz group or small jazz band
- cocktail jazz group or cocktail jazz band
- jazz band
Big Bands – Hire Orlando Jazz Band
These bands are perfect for WWII era themed events and swing dancing. Because of the size the are best suited to medium to large spaces and larger budgets.
Big Bands are large jazz bands that play swing music. Most big bands perform swing music from the swing era/WWII era. Because of the number of musicians these are more expensive than small jazz bands.
The traditional instrumentation for big bands is 5 saxophones, 3 trombones, 4 trumpets and piano, bass, drums and vocalist. Smaller big bands between big band size and Swing Band Combo are available.
All these Orlando Jazz Bands and more are available at www.MusicRemembrance.com. To hire your own Orlando jazz band contact us.
New Orleans Band Parade
A New Orleans band parade is historically for funerals and are now used for funerals, weddings and events. The New Orleans parade was originally performed by dixieland jazz bands or dixieland brass bands in the early 1900’s. The dixieland band processes to the grave site performing slow sad music like “Just A Closer Walk With Thee”. After the funeral service the band plays upbeat dixieland songs like “When the Saints Go Marching In” to celebrate their loved one going to heaven to be with God. Now the celebratory part of the tradition is also used for weddings and events.
The New Orleans band parade is often called “second line” parade. This is because when the parades were first done, there would traditionally be a “second line” of people marching along with the band.
Events Using New Orleans Band Parades and Music
- Funerals: Traditionally the parade is at the cemetery. The dixieland band processional leads family and friends on foot, or in cars, to the gravesite. The band performs slow jazz funeral music until everyone gathers at the graveside. After the service the dixieland jazz band performs upbeat New Orleans jazz music to celebrate their loved one’s transition to heaven.
- Memorials: New Orleans jazz music at the memorial service. The band provides prelude music (music before the memorial service), service music hymns and postlude music or parade out of the service music. The postlude or exit processional parade music is traditionally upbeat second line music celebrating a love one’s transition to heaven.
- Weddings: Use jazz brass band parades for your wedding ceremony recessional (walk back down the aisle at the end of the wedding ceremony) for a memorable surprise for your wedding guests. Some wedding couples like A parade starting right after you walk back down the aisle. The most popular New Orleans wedding parade is a parade from the ceremony to the cocktail hour or the cocktail hour to the reception. What a fun surprise for your guests instead of being herded from cocktails to the reception. A trumpet performing a fanfare to get everyone’s attention and then inviting everyone to join the parade.
- Conventions/meetings: Wake up everyone at your morning meetings with a New Orleans Brass Band parade though the room performing fun interactive music. Imagine your CEO leading the parade with a traditional New Orleans umbrella.
- Parties and Events: Nothing livens up a party more than dixieland jazz music. Choose soft background music or a fun lively performance.
Costumes
Different brass band costumes for different occasions
- Funerals: The traditional New Orleans band parade Costume (pictured above)
- Weddings: The traditional New Orleans band parade costume (pictured) with mardi gras beads
- Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras Parades & Parties: The traditional New Orleans parade costume with mardi gras beads or purple, green and gold mardi gras costumes
Hire A New Orleans Band Parade
In Orlando, Florida, Central Florida and Florida contact Music Remembrance for an authentic New Orleans style brass band performing dixieland second line music. A large selection of different size brass jazz bands are available. If you would like, the band continues performing for your event after the parade.
While booking a second line parade, mardi gras parade, dixieland parade, jazz parade, funeral processional, and New Orleans wedding parade, ask your musicians if they are full time performers to get the best bands available. Music Remembrance uses all full time professional musicians.
New Orleans Band parades make your funeral, wedding or event memorable. We hope to be a part or your event. Please let us know how we can serve you.
Music Remembrance Events and Service Area

Consider MusicRemembrance.com when you are hiring event musicians for your private and corporate parties in the Orlando and Tampa area.
Music Remembrance has many music ensembles and bands to choose from and we are glad to fulfill even the most unusual requests. See this link for a list of some of our ensembles.
Music Remembrance can provide event muscians like music groups, music ensembles, live music, wedding bands, and bands for wedding ceremonies, wedding receptions, parties, outdoor weddings, casino theme parties, birthday parties, anniversary parties, conventions, concerts, festivals, parades, graduations, church services, events, masses, ceremonies, dinner music, cocktail hour music.
And
Themed weddings, mardi gras parties, mardi gras parades, memorial services, funerals, dixieland funerals, funeral processionals, conventions, theme events, charity events, private parties, singing telegrams, music telegrams, celebrity performances, celebrations, tributes, roasts, charity balls, dances, Roaring 20’s party, meetings, banquets, class reunions, clubs, restaurants, theme parks, city functions, ribbon cutting ceremonies, business and store openings. promotion parties, political rallies, political events and celebrations, special events, pageants, beach weddings
And
Children’s parties, kid’s parties, debutante balls and sweet sixteen parties
Music Remembrance’s event musicians perform in all of Central Florida and Florida. We are always happy to travel in the United States and we are available worldwide. Below is a sample of our service area:
- Orlando, Florida
- Central Florida
- Dr. Phillips, FL
- Doctor Phillips,Fl
- Lady Lake, Fl
- Celebration, Fl
- Heathrow
- International Drive
- isleworth
- Celebration
- Mt. Dora
- Mount Dora
- Port Canaveral
- Orlando, FL
- Lakeland, FL
- Winter Haven, FL
- Largo, Fl,
- Indian Rocks Beach, FL.
- Winter Park, FL
- Maitland, FL
- Casselberry, FL
- New Smyrna Beach, FL
- Deland, FL
- Deltona, FL
- Sanford, FL
- Oviedo, FL
- Winter Springs, FL
- Apopka, FL
- Zellwood, FL
- Mount Dora, FL
- Melbourne, FL
- Saint Petersburg, FL
- St. Petersburg, FL
- Clearwater, FL
- Clearwater Beach, FL
- Daytona Beach, FL
- Tampa, FL
- Jacksonville, FL
- West Palm Beach, FL
- Pompano Beach, FL
- Gainesville, FL
- Sarasota, FL
- Ybor City, FL
- Naples, FL
- Boca Raton, FL
- Hollywood, FL
- Ocala, FL
- Melbourne Beach, FL
- Cocoa, FL
- Cocoa Beach, FL
- Palm Coast, FL
- Miami, Fl
- Bradenton, FL
- The Villages, Fl
- Fort Pierce, FL
- Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Fort Myers, FL
- North Fort Myers, FL
- Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
- Saint Augustine, FL
- St. Augustine, Fl
- Stuart, FL
- Vero Beach, FL
- Howey In The Hills, FL
- Avalon Park
- Lake Nona
- Lanark Village, FL
- St. Cloud, Fl
- Saint Cloud, Fl
- Leesburg, FL
- Kissimmee, F
- Lake Worth, FL
- Brooksville, F
- Winter Garden, FL
- Clermont, FL
- Wildwood, FL
- Ocoee, FL
- Altamonte Springs, FL
- Longwood, FL
- Windermere, FL
- Ponce De Leon, FL
- Lake Mary, FL
- Port Orange, FL
- Ft. Lauderdale, Fl
- Cape Canaveral, FL
- Edgewater, FL
- Brandon, FL
- Largo, FL
- Indian Rocks Beach, FL
- Jackson County, FL
- Orange County, FL
- Pinellas County
- Orange City, FL
- Flagler Beach, Fl
- Flagler County, Fl
- Jacksonville Beach, FL
- Orlando, Fl
- Jackson, MI
- Detroit, MI
- Ann Arbor, MI
- Traverse City, MI
Music Remembrance is glad to provide live music ensembles, wedding bands, and bands for all of your events.
Hiring Wedding Musicians Who Are Excellent

Thinking about hiring musicians for your wedding ceremony? Here’s a practical article that can guide you in the process of hiring wedding musicians who are excellent.
As I attended parties, events and weddings in Orlando and Tampa, I noticed that there was a real lack of quality entertainment at most functions. Often all of the other vendors of a wedding or event were of superior quality but brides, grooms and party hosts were not able to find professional music ensembles and bands. Most of the ensembles and bands consisted of amateurs, part-time musicians without the full knowledge of performing for these functions, high school students and college musicians. This can cause several problems.
- The music does not sound good
- The musicians do not understand all the event needs and their functions. Here are some examples of of problems caused by this lack of knowledge. A wedding reception band leader does not coordinate with the other vendors to ensure the dinner music is timed with dinner, the dance music starts immediately after dinner and the cake cutting and other festivities are timed correctly. There is no mic available for speeches and MCing activities. The power needs have not been anticipated for the sound system and a fuse is blown. For wedding ceremonies, inexperienced musicians may not know how to end the music for the bridal processional and there will be long delays in-between the bridal party and the bridal processional waiting for a song to end.
Orlando and Tampa party and event hosts, brides and grooms often find it difficult hiring professional entertainment. I found that the reasons for this are varied. The top quality professional musicians often do not market themselves. There are many wedding and event music consultants that have wonderful web sites but send young or inexperienced musicians to events because they can pay them a lower fee. I have found that some wedding and event entertainment consultants keep 50% or more of what the clients pay.
Here are some tips on hiring excellent professional musicians.
- Ask the wedding music consultant how much the musicians get paid or for a break down of costs.
- Ask if the musicians are full-time professional musicians.
- Don’t ask if the musicians are the same musicians on the web site One thing that surprises most people is that you should not expect the musicians will always be the same musicians on the web site. Musicians may have moved, taken full time shows or have orchestra commitments. A good wedding consultant will have a large pool of full-time professional musicians that they put together that all know the music. Any time that a group claims you always get the same musicians is usually a red flag. This usually means the musicians do not have any other gig conflicts which means they are not superior in-demand musicians and do this part time.
- Ask your friends if any of them know a full-time jazz or classical musician. These musicians usually know who the top party and wedding musicians are.
After you receive the cost breakdown from your Orlando wedding and event music consultant remember that, in music and in hiring wedding musicians, you often get what you pay for. Full-time professional musicians have spent their lives in the practice room to perfect their craft and the ones that have done this charge accordingly. With this information I’m sure that you will have a great wedding, party or event with excellent music and without unexpected problems.
Tip: The best way to save money on your wedding music and most of your wedding costs is to have your wedding during a slow season and day.
Tips on Hiring Musicians for Events
Music sets the tone for any event. For sophisticated elegance, the harp or a string quartet set the tone.
For a dance and party atmosphere a band that performs the favorite songs of all your guests gets the party going.
Central Florida has every kind of event music available. Now, it’s just deciding what is the perfect entertainment for your event. This article will provide some tips about hiring music for events.
Some factors to consider before shopping for and hiring musicians for events
- Do you want the music as background for conversation? If so, start with the list for ambient background music below.
- Do you want background music at the beginning of the evening for dinner or cocktails and then transition into party music for a party atmosphere and/or dancing? In this case the best choice might be a group that specializes in weddings and events because they specialize in meeting both needs.
- Do you want music for dancing? You can use the bands that specialize in events and weddings or you have many other choices of dance bands. The bands that specialize in events and weddings will be able to play all styles and other dance bands will play just one or two styles.
- Do you want the music to include a show to entertain your guests? There are many different kinds of show entertainment, everything from dance shows to bringing in a famous entertainer. Having a show, and what kind of show, can often depend on your budget.
- How large is you venue and party? A small room will often dictate the size of music ensemble or band because of space and volume. Although, you can hire e a large band that specializes in events for a small room. They are adept at bringing, and controlling, the right sound reinforcement to keep the sound from blowing your guests out of the room.
- What is your budget for music? This will effect the instrument choices and number of musicians in your band or ensemble. When hiring musicians for events, groups charge according to the number of musicians that they will be paying. Large instruments like drums and harp usually charge somewhat more per musician. Bands or singers needing amplification include in the band fee a cost for using, bringing and setting up equipment. The number of hours that you decide to use music can sometimes save you some money although it is a misconception that one hour will cost 1/4 of what four hours would be. Once a musician is booked for your event for the evening they usually can not fit another performance in and so you are paying for the evening minimum. If your event is at an unusual time/day you can sometimes get savings compared to a Saturday night in peak season.
Below are lists of music ensembles and bands that I believe work very well for special events and parties. All of these musicians and bands can be found in Orlando and Central Florida.
For themed event music see blog “Great Wedding and Party Themes” below.
Event with ambient background music
- Brass Quartet: Two trumpets, trombone and tuba. Some ensembles vary instrumentation.
- Brass Quintet: Two trumpets, french Horn, trombone and tuba for a slightly more full sound than Brass Quartet.
- String Quartet: Two violins, viola and cello, gives a sophisticated elegant feel.
- Harpist
- Harp and Flute Duet
- Solo Violinist
- Violin duo
- String trio
- Violinist with piano, guitar, harp or organ
- Fanfare Trumpets: The long trumpets used to announce royalty. Used to announce changes in the evening such as moving from the cocktail hour to dinner or that an silent auction is ending.
- Jazz Guitarist
- Classical Guitarist
- Guitarist performing a mix of music including light classics, jazz, standards and pop.
- Classical Pianist
- Jazz Pianist
- Pianist performing a mix of music including light classics, jazz, standards and pop.
- Italian Tenor
- Singer with piano, guitar, or harp
- Singer performing pop or jazz accompanied by guitar or piano or ensemble of guitar bass and drums or piano, bass and drums
- Jazz Combo
- Woodwind Quintet: flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and french horn
- Chamber Orchestra: combine the brass quintet and string quartet for a small orchestra
- String Orchestra
- Full Symphony Orchestra
- If you have something specific in mind for an event, any music ensemble that you can dream of is available in Central Florida and Orlando.
Event with the Entertainment as the Focal Point
You can use anything from a wedding/event variety band with multiple singers to a full blown Vegas show. Some popular shows are:
- Swing Show with singers, dancers and a live band
- Vegas Dance Show
- Magician or comedian with band
- Interactive Variety Band: A wedding/event band that has a huge amount of audience interaction. The interaction includes things like playing a medley of surf/beach songs while dozens of beach balls are tossed over a volley ball net by guests, a rock tune while guests grab blow up guitars and take the stage, and music with twist and hula hoop contests.
- Celebrity Impersonator Show: Blues brothers style act singing all of the movies big hits, Marilyn Monroe singing “I want to be loved by you”, “Happy Birthday” and other favorites, The Rat Pack with a live big band.
- Contortionist, Stilt Walkers, Caricature Artists, Face Painters, Clowns, Circus Acts, Balloon Makers and Character Actors
The sky is the limit for shows!
Event to include dancing
- An Event/Wedding band: This genre of band will be able to play music of all styles and eras to please all of your guests. These bands also have expertise at functioning as the Master of Ceremonies (MC) to announce speakers, awards, auctions, etc.
- A Rock, Pop, Country, Salsa, Swing or other style band: Remember that you will not get variety for your guests or the MC expertise
- Jazz Band or Combo: For a more mellow but still danceable approach. I suggest getting one with a singer to please more guests.
- Orchestra, Society Orchestra or Big band: For ballroom dancing
Once you have defined your musical needs of background music, entertainment, show, dance music etc., theses lists can be helpful in hiring musicians for your event.
Think of Music Remembrance the next time you think of hiring music for your event. We have many professional event musicians available in all varieties so you will be able to find the perfect music for your event.
