About
Jennifer Salisbury's Swingin' Elixir is a swing band for hire in Melbourne, VIC.
Six musicians, four in the rhythm section and two on horns, which is enough for big band weight without needing a big band stage. Jennifer Salisbury fronts it, and the material is swing from the 1920s to the 40s given a modern edge. Minnie the Moocher, Puttin' on the Ritz, Ain't Misbehavin', Why Don't You Do Right, Feeling Good, Hey Big Spender, then a swerve into Royals, Creep and Seven Nation Army done Postmodern Jukebox style. Fats Waller, Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington sit at the heart of it. Vintage stage dress is part of the show, so it fits a Gatsby night or a themed wedding without extra work from you. Two 45-minute sets is the standard shape, PA included, suitable for rooms up to about 200 guests. Melbourne based, with public liability insurance and working with children checks.
Watch
The show
Swing from the 1920s through the 40s with a modern edge on it, played by six musicians with Jennifer's smoky vocals out front. It's built for dancing rather than polite listening. Fats Waller, Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington sit alongside Gatsby-styled reworkings of much newer songs, and the band dresses the part, so a themed night gets its visuals for free. They read a room and keep the energy where it needs to be. Sound gear is professional and scales from a small venue to a large cocktail party. Flapper frocks and fedoras optional, but people do turn up in them.
On the day
A stage area of at least 3 by 2 metres is preferred. They bring a full PA that handles most venues and up to about 200 guests, and for bigger rooms or houses with their own system they'll talk to your tech crew or send full specs. Outdoors, a wet weather plan is essential rather than nice to have. Parking near the load-in point makes setup faster, and on longer bookings a quiet space and access to refreshments goes down well.
Performance options
The party set is two 45 minute blocks from the six piece, vocals, keys, guitar, bass, drums and trumpet or sax, with PA included and set times moved to fit your run sheet. The Gatsby version narrows the song choice to the 1920s and 30s plus Gatsby-styled newer material, with the band in vintage dress and themed announcements if you want them. For a whole evening, up to three 45 minute sets covers guest arrival through dinner and into the dancing, with MC duties available and the option to build out to nine pieces with extra horns and rhythm. Anything unusual, a surprise performance, a mix of quiet jazz and party sets, a particular song, gets worked out with you.
Insurance and paperwork
Public liability insured
Working with Children Check
Song list
51 songs
Feeling Good
Hey Big Spender
Swing Brother Swing
You Make Me Feel So Young
My Man Stands Out
Me and Mrs Jones
Indiana
Shiny Stockings
Let's Do It
Why Don't You Do Right
My Baby Just Cares For Me
What Is This Thing Called Love
Honeysuckle Rose
Puttin' on the Ritz
Charleston
I get a Kick Out of You
Alright OK You Win
Happy Feet
Moe's Blues
Sprinkle on the Cake
T'aint What You Do
Minnie the Moocher
Ain't She Sweet
Jersey Bounce