BLUE NOTES SWING BAND

Based in Johannesburg

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The Blue Notes Swing Band is a group of highly professional musicians re-creating the music of the Big Band era and adding the elements of modern swing to offer a fabulous mix of repertoire suitable for all ages.

The band was formed by Laurie Howe and features the multi talented Pam Mortimer on sax, flugel horn and vocals. Laurie Howe was a member of a swing band in New York City during the resurgence of swing while studying music at the Manhattan School of music and doing her Masters degree from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, and has brought that feel to South Africa. The rest of the band members are all professional musicians from the Gauteng area.

We have various sizes of band varying from a 4 piece jazz ensemble to 6, 8, 10, 11 and 13 piece swing band with male and female vocalists. We also come complete with our own sound equipment. Original Big Band swing arrangements have been adapted to suit the smaller bands.

The Blue Notes have performed in concert most recently at the Johannesburg Country Club and have played for corporate functions backing well known SA solo artists along with many wedding functions.

Sizes of band and instrumentation:

• 4 piece jazz ensemble: Sax/flugel horn/ female jazz vocals, bass, keyboard and drumkit
• 6 piece jazz/swing ensemble: Sax/flugel horn/female jazz vocals, bass, keboard, drumkit, trumpet and trombone
• 8 piece Swing Band: Alto sax/female vocals, Sax/male vocals, tenor sax/clarinet, trumpet, trombone, keyboard, bass and drumkit
• 10 piece Swing Band: Alto sax/female vocals, Sax/male vocals, tenor sax/clarinet, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, keyboard, bass and drum
• 11 piece Swing Band: Alto sax/female vocals, Sax/male vocals, tenor sax/clarinet, 4th alto sax, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, keyboard, bass and drumkit
• 13 piece Swing Band: Alto sax/female vocals, Sax/male vocals, tenor sax/clarinet, 4th alto sax, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, keyboard, bass and drumkit