Jazz Menagerie is a jazz band of experienced professional musicians based in Oxford. They love to play jazz, swing and soul music - great music to suit all ages.
The co-founders of the group are Alison Bentley (vocals/piano) and Kevin Armstrong (guitar). Most of the band, which also features saxophone, drums & bass, met while studying jazz at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.
Jazz band for hire: recent clients include: Mercedes Benz, Macmillan, the Beaufort Polo Club, Gloucestershire. Recent wedding & civil partnership venues include: Claridges, Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, Raymond Blanc's Le Manoir aux Quat' Saison, Hampton Court Palace, The Roof Gardens at Kensington, Balliol College, Oxford and the NEC, Birmingham.
Whether Jazz Menagerie are performing elegant ambience or riotous rhythm, the band's philosophy is simple: to have fun playing the music they love.
What our clients say about us
Thank you all so much for playing at my 21st last Friday. Everyone has since said that they thought you were wonderful. You made the evening.... Thanks again for making the party so magical.
Oxfordshire
My feeling, shared by my wife and friends, was that the addition of the music turned what could have been a rather ordinary event into something much more special....I felt your trio's contribution was appropriate, sensitive and musically excellent.
London
I just wanted to thank you and all of the band for the fantastic job you did at our wedding on 13 Dec. The atmosphere created by your music was spot on, and so many people have commented on how amazing you all were. The fact that the dance floor was packed all night was testament to this!
Oxfordshire
What the press says about us
...Bentley is a virtuoso jazz singer in the Sarah Vaughan / Ella Fitzgerald tradition.
...interesting and enjoyable songs... beautifully sung...
...a very original talent, both as a singer and a lyricist, so watch out for Alison Bentley..
Listen to us
Some of our repertoire
Classic Jazz
- My Baby Just Cares For Me
- Blue Moon
- It Had To Be You
- Georgia
- Summertime
- Night and Day
- God Bless the Child
- Come Fly With Me
- Bye Bye Blackbird
- Autumn Leaves
- I Get a Kick Out of You
Swing Era
- In The Mood
- Satin Doll
- Chattanooga Choo Choo
- Moonlight Serenade
- Choo Choo Choo-boogie
- Mack the Knife
- Tuxedo Junction
- Take The A Train
- Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree
- Mood Indigo
- Jeepers Creepers
Modern Jazz
- Take Five
- Moondance
- Watermelon Man
- Work Song
- Mercy Mercy Mercy
- Green Onions
- Angel Eyes
- Cantaloupe Island
- Oleo
- Yardbird Suite
- Afro Blue
- Joyspring
Romantic ballads
- As Time Goes By
- These Foolish Things
- Stardust
- My Funny Valentine
- Every Time We Say Goodbye
- Lover Man
- What a Wonderful World
- The Man I Love
- Stormy Weather
- When I Fall In Love
- Over the Rainbow
Old-time Jazz
- It Don't Mean a Thing
- All of Me
- Alexander's Ragtime Band
- St. Louis Blues
- Basin St. Blues
- Down By the Riverside
- Charleston
- Sweet Georgia Brown
- When the Saints Go Marching In
- Honeysuckle Rose
- Lady Be Good
- Somebody Loves Me
Latin Jazz
- The Girl From Ipanema
- Satin Doll
- One Note Samba
- Sunny
- Agua de Beber
- Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars
- Meditation
- Night in Tunisia
- Caravan
- On Green Dolphin Street
- Desafinado
- How Insensitive
Funky Dance
- Lovely Day
- In the Midnight Hour
- My Guy
- Dancing in the Street
- You are the Sunshine of My Life
- Heard it Through the Grapevine
- Street Life
- On The Dock of the Bay
- Perfect Day
- Walk on By
- Say a Little Prayer
And many, many more!
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