The Favela Jazz and Soul Band is a young, versatile ensemble, available to hire for all public and private events. Whether you’re looking for quiet instrumental background music to wine and dine to, or live vocal-led music guaranteed to keep you on the dance floor, we will do our best to accommodate your needs.
More Information & demo tracks here
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Imagination Gallery London
We cater for all tastes – from classic jazz standards to soul classics, be-bop hits and bossa-nova grooves, we can provide any style of music for your special event - be it a wedding reception, birthday party, Jazz and Cocktail evening, or anything in between! Also a good selection of Sinatra Swing in the show.
The individual members of the band already have extensive playing experience, performing at prestigious venues including the Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Symphony Hall, Birmingham and Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford. Members of the band have performed alongside famous jazz artists such as Frank Mantooth, Stan Sulzmann, Frank Ricotti, Kenny Wheeler, Norma Winstone, Pete Long, Nathan Bray and Butch Thomas.
The band is available in various formations, carefully selected to suit each event. Usually you would start with the 'core' band of piano and bass. This band can then be supplemented with drums, vocals, trumpets or saxophones to suit your needs.
What type of atmosphere are you trying to create?
Do you want the music to blend into the background, or would you like it be a major part of your event? A small trio (piano, bass and trumpet or saxophone) is ideal for the 'jazz-band-in-the-corner' type of event, providing a unique atmosphere for people to wine and dine to. If you're looking for a band to provide entertainment and keep people on the dance floor, the full nine-piece band is required to make to most of Big Band and Motown hits. For something in between, try a vocal-led jazz quartet (piano, bass, drums and vocals) to entertain your guests but without overshadowing the rest of the event.
Repertoire
The band has a large and varied repertoire which can broadly be drawn into three categories. A sample set-list performed by the full eight-piece band is shown below. This is very flexible; if you have any particular requests we will try and learn them for you. All of the songs the band play are original arrangements, written by members of the band.
Lounge Jazz
Jazz standards providing the perfect atmosphere whilst your guests arrive or during a meal.
Easy to Love
Blue Bossa
'S Wonderful
Don't Know Why
It Had to Be You
Desafinado
A Night in Tunisia DEMO
Scrapple From the Apple
Tea for Two
When I Fall In Love
Classic Big Band
This 30-minute set features favourites from the 1940s Big Band era and is popular with all generations.
In the Mood
American Patrol
Cute
Mean to Me
Tuxedo Junction
Satin Doll
Pennsylvania 6-5000
Take the 'A' Train
Swing
An alternative to the Lounge set if you want dancing earlier on in the evening, or an alternative to the Soul set if that is not your thing.
All of Me
Let's Fall in Love
Georgia on my Mind
Have you Met Miss Jones
It Had to Be You
Just Friends
What a Difference a Day Made
My Baby Just Cares for Me
Moondance
Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered
Straighten Up and Fly Right
Let There be Love
Rat Pack
A popular mix of hits made famous by the Rat Pack. Enjoyed by people of all ages, these classic tunes are guaranteed to get people up and dancing!
Come Fly With Me
Fly me to the Moon DEMO
The Lady is a Tramp
I Get a Kick out of You
The Girl From Ipanema DEMO
They Can't Take That Away From Me
Ain't That a Kick in the Head
I get a Kick out of You
For Once in My Life
Sway DEMO
Strangers in the Night
I've Got you Under my Skin DEMO
Mack the Knife
Soul and Motown
Our most popular set, taking you back to the soul classics of the 70s and beyond. The perfect end to any evening!
I Want You Back
I Say a Little Prayer for You
Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours
My Guy
I Just Wanna Make Love to You
Isn't She Lovely
How Sweet it Is to be Loved by You
Blame it on the Boogie DEMO
Sir Duke DEMO
It's Not Unusual
Someone Like You
Ain't no Mountain High Enough DEMO
That's Life
September
Can't Take my Eyes Off You
Some recent updates
Please note that some of the songs can only be played by the full 9-piece function band; generally speaking, the smaller the band, the more limited the repertoire.
Set One: Lounge Jazz
Set Two: Swing
Set Three: Classic Big Band
Set Four: Rat Pack
Set Five: Soul
Set One: Lounge Jazz
Jazz standards providing the perfect atmosphere whilst your guests arrive or during a meal.
Easy to Love
Blue Bossa
'S Wonderful
Don't Know Why
It Had to Be You
Desafinado
A Night in Tunisia
Scrapple From the Apple
Tea for Two
When I Fall In Love
....and virtually any other jazz 'standard' you could think of! Please feel free to send your requests.
Set Two: Swing
An alternative to the Lounge set if you want dancing earlier on in the evening, or an alternative to the Soul set if that is not your thing.
All of Me
Let's Fall in Love
Georgia on my Mind
Have you Met Miss Jones
It Had to Be You
Just Friends
What a Difference a Day Made
My Baby Just Cares for Me
Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered
Straighten Up and Fly Right
Let There be Love
Set Three: Classic Big Band
This set features favourites from the 1940s Big Band era and is popular with all generations. (If you don't choose this set, we often incorporate some of the songs into other sets)
In the Mood
American Patrol
Cute
Satin Doll
I Thought About You
L'il Darlin'
Mean to Me
Down for the Count
In a Mellow Tone
Tuxedo Junction
Pennsylvania 6-5000
Take the 'A' Train
Set Four: Rat Pack
A popular mix of hits made famous by the Rat Pack. Enjoyed by people of all ages, these classic tunes are guaranteed to get people up and dancing!
Luck be a Lady
The Lady is a Tramp
Fly me to the Moon
Call Me Irresponsible
Zing! Went the Strings of my Heart
Sway
Come Fly With Me
They Can't Take That Away From Me
Ain't That a Kick in the Head
Have You Met Miss Jones
In the Mood
Let There be Love
For Once in my Life
I've Got you Under my Skin
Mack the Knife
Set Five: Soul and Motown
Our most popular set, taking you back to the soul classics of the 70s and beyond. The perfect end to any evening!
I Want You Back
I Say a Little Prayer for You
Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours
My Girl
I Just Wanna Make Love to You
How Sweet it Is to be Loved by You
Think - Respect (Aretha Franklin medley)
Blame it on the Boogie
Sir Duke
It’s Not Unusual
Ain't No Mountain High Enough
Let's Get It On
That's Life
Save the Last Dance For Me
September
Can’t Take My Eyes Off You