Stirling Austin Swing Band, The

With an authentic swing band sound, including a great horn section, as well as the ability to transform into a soul and pop band, Stirling Austin has the repertoire to please all tastes – from cool, sophisticated swing, jazz and Rat Pack classics, to high energy soul and pop numbers to really make your party come alive (and perhaps a bit of Rock ‘n’ Roll if the mood takes you).

Some of the UK’s finest professional musicians play in the band. They’ve worked with the likes of The BBC Big Band, Jamie Cullum, Jacqui Dankworth, Stacey Kent, Martha Reeves & the Vandellas and many other top entertainers and celebrities.

This is a professional and reliable function band that knows how to deliver quality entertainment and can adapt the line up to suit your event and budget. As you add more horns, the sound becomes richer and fuller.

• Quintet – Featuring male vocal, rhythm section, and 1 horn
• Six piece – Featuring male vocal, rhythm section and a 2 piece horn section
• Seven piece – Featuring male vocal, rhythm section and a 3 piece horn section
• Nine piece – Featuring male vocal, rhythm section and a 5 piece horn section

They can also add extra female vocals to each band size to extend the repertoire even further.

An ideal formula is to set the mood in the first part of the evening with a couple of sets of Swing, Rat Pack and Big Band classics, followed by a classic soul and pop set to really get the party cooking!

The Stirling Austin Quartet (piano, vocals, bass, drums)

Ideal for smaller, more intimate gatherings to create a sophisticated and mellow atmosphere in the style of Tony Bennett and Burt Bacharach, allowing you and your guests to talk and be heard whilst still getting people on the dance floor!

Ideal for events where the soul and pop repertoire is not required.

Vocal Duo/Trio with Piano/Bass

Stirling can also perform solo with a simple piano/bass accompaniment. This option is ideal when background music is required for a reception or cocktail event. This line-up can also be included as an introduction to an evening, for example before the band plays or as guests are arriving.

Wedding First Dance Lessons

The Band works in partnership with Taina Kortelainen, a professional dance teacher, choreographer and dance champion, who can prepare you for your very special first dance to the Stirling Austin Swing or Soul Band and even organise a Hen party dance session with a video souvenir!

Repertoire:

Swing/Rat Pack/Latin/jazz standards

• A Foggy Day – Michael Buble
• A Nightingale Sang – Bobby Darin
• A Wink And A Smile – Harry Connick Jr.
• Ain’t Misbehavin – Fats Waller
• Aint Nobody Here But Us Chickens – Louis Jordan
• Aint That A Kick In The Head – Dean Martin
• Beyond The Sea – Bobby Darin
• Blue Moon – Mel Torme
• Call Me Irresponsible – Michael Buble
• Careless Hands – Mel Torme
• Cheek To Cheek – Fred Astaire
• Come Fly With Me – Frank Sinatra
• Don’t get around much anymore – Harry Connick Jr.
• East Of The Sun – Frank Sinatra
• Everybody Loves Somebody – Dean Martin
• Fascination – Nat King Cole
• Fly Me To The Moon – Frank Sinatra
• For Once In My Life – Frank Sinatra
• Georgia – Ray Charles
• Girl Talk – Georgie Fame/Neal Hefti
• Have You Met Miss Jones – Frank Sinatra
• Hello Dolly – Bobby Darin
• I Get A Kick Out Of You – Frank Sinatra
• It Don’t Mean A Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing – Duke Ellington
• It Had Better Be Tonight – Michael Buble
• It Had To Be You – Harry Connick Jr.
• I’ve got the World on a String – Michael Buble
• I’ve Got You Under My Skin – Frank Sinatra
• Just One Of Those Things – Frank Sinatra
• Lady Is A Tramp – Frank Sinatra
• Let There Be Love – Nat King Cole
• Lets face the Music And Dance – Fred Astaire
• L.O.V.E. – Nat King Cole
• Mack the Knife – Bonny Darin
• Mambo Italiano-Dean Martin
• Moondance – Michael Buble
• Moonlight In Vermont – Frank Sinatra
• Mr Bojangles – Sammy Davis Jr.
• More – Bobby Darin
• My Baby Just Cares For Me – Nina Simone
• My Way – Frank Sinatra
• New York New York – Frank Sinatra
• Nice and Easy – Frank Sinatra
• Night and Day – Frank Sinatra
• Pennies From Heaven – Frank Sinatra
• Save the Last Dance For Me – Michael Buble
• Strangers In The Night – Frank Sinatra
• Surrey With a Fringe on Top – Mel Torme
• Sway – Michael Buble
• Swinging On a Star – Bing Crosby
• That Ole Devil Called Love – Bille Holiday
• The Best Is Yet to Come – Tony Bennett
• The Coffee Song-Frank Sinatra
• The Girl From Ipanema – Gilberto
• The Good Life – Tony Bennett
• The Last Waltz – Engelbert Humperdinck
• The Summer Wind – Frank Sinatra
• The Tender Trap – Frank Sinatra
• The Way You Look Tonight – Frank Sinatra
• They Can’t Take That Away From Me – Frank Sinatra
• Unforgettable – Nat King Cole
• What a Difference a Day Made – Jamie Cullum
• What A Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
• Windmills of your mind – Sting version
• Witchcraft – Frank Sinatra
• You make me feel so young – Frank Sinatra

Soul and classic pop

• All Night Long – Lionel Richie
• Can’t Help Falling In Love – Elvis Presley
• Can’t Take My Eyes Off You – Andy Williams
• Dock Of The Bay – Otis Redding
• Hard To Handle – Otis Redding
• Everything – Michael Buble
• I Feel Good – James Brown
• I Heard It Through The Grapevine – Marvin Gaye
• In The Midnight Hour – Wilson Pickett
• It’s Not Unusual – Tom Jones
• Just The Two Of Us – Bill Withers
• Just the way you are – Barry White
• Kiss – Prince
• Mercy – Duffy *
• Move On Up – Curtis Mayfield
• My Girl – The Temptations
• Knock On Wood – Otis Redding
• Lady Marmalade – Labelle/Christina Aguilera
• Let’s stay together – Al Green
• Lovely Day – Bill Withers

French repertoire

• A toi – Joe Dassin
• Corcovado – version Henri Salvador
• C’est si bon-Yves Montand
• Cha Cha Cha Du Loup-Serge Gainsbourg
• Comme d’habitude-Claude Francois
• Dansez-sur moi -Claude Nougaro
• Darling, je vous aime beaucoup-Jean Sablon
• Garde-Moi La Dernière Danse -Mort Shuman (Bossa)
• Jardin d’hiver- Henri Salvador
• L.O.V.E.- Sacha Distel
• La belle vie-Sacha Distel
• La derniére valse-Mirelle Mathieu
• La Fille d’Ipanema-Jobim
• La Javanaise-Serge Gainsbourg
• La Mer-Charles Trenet
• Le dernier Slow-Joe Dassin
• Le Feutre Taupé-Charles Aznavour
• Les feuilles mortes-Yves Montand
• Les moulins de mon Coeur-Michel Legrand
• Mambo Italiano-Danny Brillant
• Mes emmerdes-Charles Aznavour
• Oui Oui Oui Oui Oui-Sacha Distel
• Scoubidou-Sacha Distel
• Tous Les Visages De L’Amour-Charles Aznavour
• Tu verras- Claude Nougarro

Jewish wedding music

• Hava nagila
• Chos’n Kale Mazeltov
• If I was a rich man
• Matchmaker
• Hora Medley
• Sunrise sunset
• Bei Mir bist du scheyn
• Songs of Gidi Gov, Arik Einstein, Matti Caspi, Shlomo Artzi, Chava Alberstein

Testimonials

“The atmosphere and ambience were a direct result of you and the band who kept the party swinging and swaying well into the night.” Ross Adams, Assistant to Producer, Coronation Street

“We’ve had some wonderful feedback about the event, and you and the band went down a storm. The music was pitched just right and really added a touch of class.” Annabel, Corporate PR & Events, Marks & Spencer Plc

“Ryan and I would like to thank you and the band for being absolutely fantastic on our wedding day. We were thrilled with the set of swing and soul and it was clear that all our friends and family were too! It was wonderful to see everyone dancing and enjoying themselves as much as Ryan and myself. Having a swing band on my wedding day was really a dream come true.” Deborah Newman, Wedding

“James and I would like to say thanks you for your amazing performance at our Wedding in December. The best Swing & Soul band ever!” Debbie & James Winstanley

“Thank you so much for an excellent performance at our wedding on the 24th October 2009. Everybody just cannot stop talking about how fabulous you were and how you made the evening so utterly enjoyable.” Helen & Kenny Bennett

“I commissioned you to entertain the mess on 9 May 09. I have been in the mess now for over 23 years and have effectively hired many bands in my role as President of the Entertainments Committee (PEC) to perform at all manner of occasions and your band is amongst the most professional, polished, well presented and entertaining that I have experienced.” Roy Ricketts, Army Warrant Officer

“Good music, flexible attitude and an evening with style sums up my experience with Stirling Austin. He knows what works and what doesn’t and has a great manner to help you get the best out of any occasion – a rare find!” Rachel Ley, Eventia