All-instrumental groups

[matthewbrown]

Typically, I've led jazz groups that didn't feature singers, mainly as background music. I'd like to branch out into pop, but still stay away from having a singer, at least not on every gig. Has anyone had any experience with this type of booking that you can share some info about? I'm thinking along the lines of a jazz group, where lots of subs is the norm and there's a book of charts.

 

[turf3]

I was in a band that was about 90% instrumental, but that was a prog band (we didn't call it that in those days, that's a neologism, but it fits) in the early 1980s.

It was also about 60% original tunes, mostly written by the keyboardist/leader, who went on to have a long and distinguished career as a studio musician.

What repertoire are you thinking of? "Pop" ranges from a bebop quintet playing "Tangerine" (from "The Fleet's In") to the latest mall music from Taylor Swift.

 

[Pocket Dave]

IME, playing music without vocals often keeps bands at background-music, wallpaper-gig level.

Some of that's a perception thing. I was at a bar watching an instrumental band playing some of the same kind of improvisational-based songs we did, only I'd sing a couple versus on most songs at the start and end to anchor the tunes. A woman I ran into their told me, "I hate these guys - they're off in their own heads; I love the way your band connects with the audience."

 

[JRA]

i play in an all-instrumental band. we play some jazz tunes but we also play classic rock/pop/funk (for dancers!) tunes where the 3-piece horn section provides melodies and harmonies per any vocal group.

contrary to @Pocket Dave's POV/experience, we actually have a following for the public gigs and we're hired for events as the main attraction.

we've been playing parties and events (and bars/restaurants) for over 10 years, we carry a PA just like any other band (when it's not provided), we put on something of a show, we connect with the audiences (lots of "audience participation") and we're all glad that we can pull off being the primary entertainment without singers and vocals! fun stuff!

 

[matthewbrown]

IME, playing music without vocals often keeps bands at background-music, wallpaper-gig level.

Some of that's a perception thing. I was at a bar watching an instrumental band playing some of the same kind of improvisational-based songs we did, only I'd sing a couple versus on most songs at the start and end to anchor the tunes. A woman I ran into their told me, "I hate these guys - they're off in their own heads; I love the way your band connects with the audience."

This is definitely a matter of audience perception, I think, and also the type of venue and how well it fits the band's presentation. I don't mind playing background music if I like the tunes and I'm paid well enough. It's important to connect with the audience, and there are a variety of ways to do that. Programming tunes matters a LOT, IMHO. Varying the rhythmic feels, the eras of the songs, and keeping the tempos lively all help, even if the music is supposed to be in the background, IME.

 

[matthewbrown]

i play in an all-instrumental band. we play some jazz tunes but we also play classic rock/pop/funk (for dancers!) tunes where the 3-piece horn section provides melodies and harmonies per any vocal group.

contrary to @Pocket Dave's POV/experience, we actually have a following for the public gigs and we're hired for events as the main attraction.

we've been playing parties and events (and bars/restaurants) for over 10 years, we carry a PA just like any other band (when it's not provided), we put on something of a show, we connect with the audiences (lots of "audience participation") and we're all glad that we can pull off being the primary entertainment without singers and vocals! fun stuff!

I'm glad to hear this band is working out so well!

 

[matthewbrown]

I was in a band that was about 90% instrumental, but that was a prog band (we didn't call it that in those days, that's a neologism, but it fits) in the early 1980s.

It was also about 60% original tunes, mostly written by the keyboardist/leader, who went on to have a long and distinguished career as a studio musician.

What repertoire are you thinking of? "Pop" ranges from a bebop quintet playing "Tangerine" (from "The Fleet's In") to the latest mall music from Taylor Swift.

Right now I am checking out pop tunes that have already been covered successfully as instrumentals. I am hoping to avoid playing too many jazz standards, as those are played to death around here, and usually in the same way. My hope is to create arrangements that will allow for the songs to be presented in different ways and allow for enough improvisation to keep the musicians from getting bored, but not so much that the audience tunes it out. People want familiar melodies. Offering them in new contexts can work, but familiarity makes for accessibility.

 

[Michedelic]

Right now I am checking out pop tunes that have already been covered successfully as instrumentals. I am hoping to avoid playing too many jazz standards, as those are played to death around here, and usually in the same way. My hope is to create arrangements that will allow for the songs to be presented in different ways and allow for enough improvisation to keep the musicians from getting bored, but not so much that the audience tunes it out. People want familiar melodies. Offering them in new contexts can work, but familiarity makes for accessibility.

Check out as many YT videos by jazz pianist Brad Mehldau as possible. He’s chosen some surprising material, even tacked Radiohead. Then, although there are often vocals, Postmodern Jukebox, who do old-timey jazz arrangements of contemporary songs; how they go about it may spark some ideas for you.

 

[KellyC]

I’ve seen 1 man shows at restaurants where the guy would play the vocal melody on guitar/saxophone/steel drum/etc, and I assumed it as because the background music gigs don’t pay well.

 

[lunarpollen]

My main band is a (mostly) instrumental band... We have a few vocal numbers, but usually play all-instrumental sets at shows. We do mostly surf and adjacent style stuff, late 1950s to early-1960s covers with plenty of originals too. We definitely are not a background music-level band; we can keep the volume to a more moderate level when necessary, but we generally play as loud as the average band that plays non-hard rock. We can play anywhere from a short single set to multiple sets over a 3-hour engagement. The amount of original tunes in our repertoire means that situations requiring a sub could be a little tricky, but the amount of covers in our repertoire means that for most situations, something could be worked out.

 

[P-Belly Evans]

I did in the UK for years. We were called Shatterproof and not only were we instrumental, we were a totally improvisational funk band. It was great. I loved the idea of not knowing what was going to come out each night. We did play mostly Jazz inspired clubs like Ronnie Scott's regularly.

Another group I was in used to put on a great jazz open mic night every week where we would play as the house band, dropping out when someone wanted to play the same instrument. That went mega. We had people like Soweto Kinch come to jam before he won the mercury music prize.

Also, we did nights as are club outfit. DJs with live bass, bongos congas and guitar over the hip hop grooves. That was brilliant too. We used to get all the best breakdancers turn up and bust their moves on the dancefloor.

I also did a cool Northern Soul tribute act which mixed instrumental grooves with the vocal lines played on hammond. We also added vocals later for a 50/50 mix. Check it out....



So, in my experience it can be done successfully if you find the right places, have a good plan and something that makes you a bit different.

 

[Geogio]

I was in the 22 piece big band for 12 years and we did have a singer occasionally but that was more towards the end of it for me because I moved. There was a spin-off quintet for a small parties and there was a Dixieland traditional jazz band it came out of that as well . Very active during those years with those groups cuz it was a big metropolitan area and there was a lot of gigs around especially during the holidays. The other instrumental band I was in was a Pianist and myself and an occasional swing drummer. That was a great little Trio and the piano player was so good he probably didn't even need me but it was fun and we worked over a lot of material and stayed pretty busy. We sometimes had a female vocalist... sometimes. And there were these four Jazz vocalists we would team up with occasionally and they did all the 40s and wartime hits which was pretty cool but it was all about the singers. We would bring in a small horn section during a lot of those gigs, the cool thing was we were all well rehearsed we had played with each other for years so it was really get together for a couple of times before a gig and bam! Charts were a must have.

 

[Bunk McNulty]

I just signed on for an all-instrumental surf music band. That's the concept, anyway. The book has a lot of Ventures (who sort of invented the genre) and similar, plus some early Meters, Link Wray, Duane Eddy, etc. And a surf-version of Folsom Prison. The BL is working on local clubs to have Tiki-Bar nights for us to play at. I have no idea if this is actually going to get anywhere, but I confess, it sure is fun playing goofy stuff like the theme from Kids In The Hall:

 

[2saddleslab]

About 20 years ago I envisioned an all instrumental band that played everything from Take Five to The Sugerfoot Rag, to Pipeline, & everything in-between. There would be no PA, just amplification for guitar, bass, keys, w/ the drum au natural. Never got off the ground because assembling the available talent to cover that wide range was impossible.

 

[eddododo]

Typically, I've led jazz groups that didn't feature singers, mainly as background music. I'd like to branch out into pop, but still stay away from having a singer, at least not on every gig. Has anyone had any experience with this type of booking that you can share some info about? I'm thinking along the lines of a jazz group, where lots of subs is the norm and there's a book of charts.

I guess I don’t know what ‘branching out into pop’ means… like playing instrumental versions of pop songs, in a pop style? Like a Muzak pop kind of thing?

 

[eddododo]

I’ve seen 1 man shows at restaurants where the guy would play the vocal melody on guitar/saxophone/steel drum/etc, and I assumed it as because the background music gigs don’t pay well.

Yeah it’s almost the inverse of OP’s idea… there are definitely economic considerations at play

 

[turf3]

Again, I'd ask, "what do you mean by 'pop'?"

But for fun, check out some of Rahsaan Roland Kirk's takes on pop tunes of his day: "I Never can Say Goodbye" and "Say a Little Prayer" are two I remember right off the top of my head. Bright Moments!

 

[turf3]

 

[JRA]

I guess I don’t know what ‘branching out into pop’ means… like playing instrumental versions of pop songs, in a pop style? Like a Muzak pop kind of thing?

if you can assemble the right players (imagination + chops) you can play any tune that a vocal group can play. my band isn't a "muzak pop kind of thing" --- it's not elevator music, far from it! it's just like a band with vocals but there are no words/lyrics, only notes and melodies.

the big bonus for us is that we can easily incorporate original material right along with the pop/rock/soul/funk stuff. and mashups/medleys are a breeze (for the audience) when done instrumentally.

lots of folks hear "instrumental" and think "laid back." it's a shortsighted POV.

 

[Ben Esparza]

These folks did okay as instrumental groups.