Skip to main content

Jazz Bands in Manchester

Book a jazz band in Manchester

Jazz is one of the most flexible kinds of live music you can book. In Manchester it works as background for a wedding breakfast or networking reception, a set for a long dinner or an evening of swing and jump jive, and the line-up can be shaped around the event rather than the other way round.

Whether your event is near Didsbury, Altrincham and Salford Quays or further afield, the jazz acts here cover the whole of Manchester. Local venues include The Midland Hotel, Great John Street Hotel and Ordsall Hall — if you're still choosing a venue, it's worth checking where the music will be set up.

Jazz covers a lot of ground. Some acts specialise in Great American Songbook standards, others in gypsy jazz, New Orleans trad, Latin and bossa nova, or modern soul-jazz arrangements of pop songs. Listening to a few will quickly tell you which sound fits your event.

Hireaband has booked live music for events since 1999. Each jazz band on this page travels to Manchester as standard, travel is always included in the quote, and the instant quote button will show you prices and availability for your date without waiting for a reply.

The essentials:

  • Typical cost: from around £500 for a jazz duo to £2,500 or more for a larger band, depending on line-up and date
  • Line-ups from solo pianist or duo through to a five or six-piece jazz band
  • Background sets for receptions and dinners, or livelier swing for dancing
  • Travel is included in every quote
  • Every booking carries a 14-day change-of-mind refund

Room size and the kind of event decide most of it. A trio suits most receptions and dinners comfortably. A five or six-piece, with horns and drums, is the better choice for a large function room or a crowd that wants to dance. If you're unsure, tell us the venue and guest numbers and we'll suggest what tends to work.

Expect to pay from around £500 for a duo up to £2,500 or more for a larger band. Line-up size matters most, then the length of the performance and the time of year, with busy Saturdays and the Christmas season at the top end. Every quote includes travel, so there are no extra costs added later.

Every act's page has video and audio of the musicians who would actually play, along with their repertoire and written reviews from people who have booked them. It's the easiest way to check the style and the sound before you commit.

Use the instant quote button on this page to see prices and availability for your date. Once you've chosen an act, we handle the contract, the deposit and the arrangements, and stay in touch through to the day. Every booking includes a 14-day change-of-mind refund, and an emergency contact line is available on the day if anything needs sorting quickly.

Show more
Refine Your Search

Dan Burnett - Piano Vocalist

Dan Burnett is one of the UK’s leading piano vocalists. It’s in his blood.

Read more

From £495

Price is based on standard fee without any travel or extras

Gentlemen of the Road

A vintage 20's - 40's style swing band that will blow your socks off with their unique arrangements of modern tracks

Read more

From £1,985

Price is based on standard fee without any travel or extras

Badass Brass

A Funky New Orleans Style Brass Band Playing Modern Covers & Classics.

Read more

From £1,700

Price is based on standard fee without any travel or extras

The Speakeasies

"Post Modern Jukebox" styled modern era tunes with a vintage twist plus classic party bangers to fill that dance floor.

Read more

From £1,635

Price is based on standard fee without any travel or extras

Vipers Swing

The Smoothest Sounds | Female Vocals | Sax

Read more

From £999

Price is based on standard fee without any travel or extras

The Martinis

Wedding & Function Bands Don't Come Better Than This. All Genres, Male & Female Vocals, They Have It All.

Read more

From £2,200

Price is based on standard fee without any travel or extras

FAQs

Jazz works particularly well for wedding drinks receptions, corporate dinners, awards evenings, garden parties and milestone celebrations — anywhere you want live music that adds atmosphere without stopping conversation. Many acts can also play a livelier swing set later for dancing.

Yes. Most jazz acts are used to playing at a volume that lets guests talk comfortably, especially duos and trios. Tell the band the room and the purpose of each set, and they'll pitch the volume and repertoire to suit.

A trio is usually piano or guitar, double bass and vocals or a lead instrument — ideal for receptions and dinners. A quartet or quintet adds drums and often saxophone or trumpet for a fuller sound, and a larger band gives you the energy for a dance floor.

A duo or trio needs very little: a small corner of the room and, in some cases, a single power socket. Larger bands with drums and amplification need more floor space and power nearby, so it's worth checking with your venue in Manchester before booking.

From around £500 for a jazz duo to £2,500 or more for a larger band. The line-up, how long they play and the date make the biggest difference, and travel is always included in the quote.

Yes. Each act lists its repertoire, and most are happy to learn a special request with enough notice. If you have a style in mind — standards, gypsy jazz, bossa nova or swing — choose an act that specialises in it.

Reviews

(5)

“Tom is a talented and versatile saxophone player with a great future ahead of him. His impressive technique is matched by a mature sense of musicianship and he has a comprehensive understanding of how to fluently negotiate a broad range of repertoire. Tom’s outlook is highly professional and he is sensitive to the requirements of the different settings he performs in”

(5)

“I really enjoyed working with Livi ITM. Despite their youth, the band were thoroughly professional and dedicated musicians who brought a fresh dynamic to our music festival. The trio complement each other very well, bringing a warmth to the stage that the audience to engage with. Livi, front and centre, delivered controlled vocals of a seasoned pro, years ahead of her time. I look forward to working with them again.”

(5)

“Incredible band, incredible show, incredible evening. Our daughter's 21st was absolutely perfect and the modern songs you did with a swing twist were amazing. Just The Way You Are was our favourite. Honestly thank you so much for an unforgettable evening. Would recommend you to all our friends!”

(5)

“The nojitos surpassed all our expectations from start to finish. The clips on Youtube do not do them justice, they managed to perform modern songs in a classic way, like watching Count Basie perform Taylor Swift! Not only will we be booking them again, we'll be passing their details to everyone we know that wants a top quality music set. The whole crowd loved every minute. Absolutely perfect”

(5)

“For my 40th birthday last November, I wanted to re-create some swing style magic for myself and my friends. And with Gentlemen of the Road that's exactly what I got. The set list was awesome, and you can tell the band love what they do as the sound they produced was wonderful. I can't recommend them highly enough. Two long sets just wasn't enough! Thanks guys, we had an incredible evening.”

(5)

“We booked this band for a charity event.From first contact they were very positive and understanding of the type of evening we wanted, and they delivered exactly as promised.They play a lovely mix of music and are obviously very talented musicians.They offer a sophisticated repertoire of swing era music and we would highly recommend them for this type of occasion.They are also a very nice group of people.”

Local Venues in Manchester

The Monastery Manchester

The Monastery Manchester

Pugin’s Gothic masterpiece in Gorton, rescued from ruin and painstakingly restored — a wedding here feels like an event in the building’s own life.

View venue
The Midland Hotel

The Midland Hotel

Edwardian grandeur on Peter Street, where Rolls met Royce and the tango arrived in Britain — still one of Manchester’s great occasion hotels.

View venue
Ordsall Hall

Ordsall Hall

A black-and-white Tudor manor house first recorded in 1177, standing its ground in the middle of Salford with a walled herb garden and an orchard.

View venue
Great John Street Hotel

Great John Street Hotel

A Victorian schoolhouse behind Deansgate turned boutique hotel, with a two-tier Oyster Bar and a rooftop playground above the city treetops.

View venue
Victoria Warehouse

Victoria Warehouse

An early 1900s cotton warehouse on Trafford Wharf, all raw brick and iron pillars, and one of the North West’s great blank-canvas wedding spaces.

View venue
Victoria Baths

Victoria Baths

A Grade II* listed Edwardian swimming baths in Chorlton-on-Medlock, saved by public vote and now one of Manchester's most distinctive wedding venues.

View venue
Manchester Hall

Manchester Hall

The city’s old Freemasons’ hall on Bridge Street, full of domed ceilings, dark panelling, roof terrace views and an all-seeing eye or three.

View venue
The Whitworth

The Whitworth

An art gallery set in its own park on Oxford Road, where Victorian galleries open out into glass and trees and the art stays up for your party.

View venue
The Principal / Kimpton Clocktower

The Principal / Kimpton Clocktower

Waterhouse’s great terracotta clocktower on Oxford Street, with marble staircases, oak panelling and one of the North West’s largest ballrooms.

View venue
Top

Refining your acts

Hum a little tune to yourself while we check your date against over 800 entertainer diaries. It'll be worth the short wait.

Unknown has been moved to/from the wishlist.

Get in touch