The Chris Walker Swingtet Mellow five-piece jazz ensemble Formed in 1987 following a one-off Sunday lunchtime session for the Southampton Jazz Society The Chris Walker Swingtet is now an established and highly respected ensemble who regularly perform their swing-based repertoire along the south coast. Their five-piece line up of Clarinet/Sax, Vibraphone, Piano, Bass and Drums has seen only one change since their beginning with guitar replacing the original vibraphone. The Swingtet is delighted that they are well received at so many varied functions and prides itself as being particularly "user-friendly". Their smart appearance, reliability and professionalism ensure that they are a favourite band at many venues and functions. The Chris Walker Swingtet is equally at home providing dance music in the Country's leading hotels and Cruise liners as they are appearing in their own right or backing top National (and International) jazz stars at Festivals and in pubs and clubs. The band can appear as a 4, the regular 5 (which comprises clarinet/sax, guitar, keyboards, bass and drums) or even 6 piece to suit your requirements and budget. "The band was absolutely perfect for the occasion and I cannot recommend them highly enough. The music was super, perfect for a lovely hot summer's afternoon and I wouldn't hesitate to book them again for a future event." - Simon (PTA BBQ June 2006)

Sample Repertoire

Our play-list contains well over 1000 tunes from the classic swing and jazz era. Most of these songs are extremely well known and were mostly written by the leading songwriters born in the 1st half of the 20th Century. A small selection is listed below but if you have any specific titles you would like included we are happy to do this if our instrumentation and technique permits.

Cole Porter: C’est Magnifique, Begin The Beguine

George Gershwin: Summertime, I Got Rhythm, Somebody Loves Me, Our Love Is Here To Stay, Oh Lady Be Good, Someone To Watch Over Me, Strike Up The Band, S’Wonderful

Irving Berlin: Puttin’ On The Ritz, Alexander’s Ragtime Band, All By Myself

Dixieland and Swing: Fidgety Feet, High Society, Sweet Georgia Brown, Royal Garden Blues, St Louis Blues, Please Don’ Talk About Me When I’m Gone, Margie, Indiana, At Sundown, Basin Street Blues, Tin Roof Blues, I Can’t Give You Anything But Love

Fats Waller: Ain’t Misbehavin’, Keepin’Out Of Mischief Now, Black & Blue, The Joint Is Jumping, Honeysuckle Rose, I’m Gonna Sit Right Down

Hoagy Carmichael: Stardust, Skylark, New Orleans, Georgia On My Mind, Rockin’ Chair

Glenn Miller: Moonlight Serenade, I Know Why, At Last, Tuxedo Junction, In The Mood

Benny Goodman: Seven Come Eleven, As Long As I Live, Don’t Be That Way, Flying Home, Avalon, A Smo-oo-oth One, On The Alamo, Memories Of You, Moonglow, Stomping At The Savoy, Christopher Columbus

Duke Ellington: In A Mellotone, Don’t Get Around Much Anymore, Satin Doll, Mood Indigo, Creole Love Call, It Don’t Mean A Thing, Solitude

Count Basie: Taps Miller, Jive At Five, Cute

George Shearing: Lullaby Of Birdland, September In The Rain, East Of The Sun, Roses Of Picardy

Louis Armstrong: Hello Dolly, Mac The Knife, Cabaret, Blueberry Hill, Pennies From Heaven, I’m Confessing That I Love You, Jeepers Creepers

Music Sample