What sort of music do we play?
Our style is loosely based on the music of the 1920s to 1940, ranging from the marches and rags of New Orleans, through the popular songs and dances of the period to more modern rocking blues and songs with a lively latin feel to them. We respond to the occasion and to any requests from those at the gig and even play the occasional waltz if requested!
The line up of the band
The City Steam Jazz Band plays with different musicians to suit the occasion, depending on the wishes of the client and the constraints of the venue. The photos in the Picture Gallery will give you an idea of the range of occasions for which we play, but we will do our best to provide the music the client wants.
Our favourite size of band is the Six Piece. It consists of a front line, made up of trumpet, clarinet/sax and trombone, with a rhythm section of bass, guitar/banjo and drums. This band is ideal for outside events, such as village fetes, or for inside events where there are lots of people who want to dance. We enjoy playing with this line-up since with it we can play the gutsy numbers like Bourbon Street Parade and Bugle Boy March.
The City Steam Hot Four is much more suited to smaller scale engagements. This quartet consists of trumpet / cornet, clarinet / saxophone, guitar / banjo and bass. This band is ideal when the venue is small or the music needs to be quiet – such as at a wedding reception as the guests gather for drinks after the service, or in a private house. We play regularly with this group at the Five Bells at Clyst Hydon. The music is loud enough for them to enjoy but not too loud that it prevents them holding a conversation.
Sometimes we play with five musicians if the occasion requires it.
What we sound like
To listen to a sample of music from our CD click on the button below.
Watch a video of us playing
CLICK HERE to watch the City Steam Hot Four (plus drums) playing "The Royal Clarence Blues" live at the charity concert at the Royal Clarence Hotel, Exeter.
CLICK HERE to watch the full six piece City Steam Jazz Band playing "The Canal Street Blues" at Halberton Church Fete.
Our current repertoire
Here is a list of the numbers we play, though we are adding to the list frequently and will try to learn a new number if you particularly request it.
| Ace in the hole After you've gone Ain't misbehavin' Ain't she sweet Alexander's ragtime band All of me All the world is waiting Apex blues April showers At a Georgia camp meeting At the jazz band ball Auf Wiedersehn Sweetheart Autumn leaves Avalon Baby face Ballin' the jack Basin street blues Beale Street Blues Believe it Beloved Big butter and egg man Bill Bailey Birth of the Blues Black and blue Blue Moon Blue skies Blueberry Hill Blues my naughty Sweety gives to me Bourbon Street Parade Bring me sunshine Buddy Bolden's Blues Buddy's Habbits Bugle Boy March Button up your overcoat Bye and bye Bye bye blackbird Cake walkin' babies Canal Street Blues Careless love Charleston and Varsity drag Chicago Chimes blues China boy Chinatown my Chinatown Clarinet Marmalade Crazy about my baby Creole Love Call Dark town strutters' ball Dinah Dippermouth Blues Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans Doctor Jazz Don't get around much any more Down among the sheltering palms Down by the riverside Everybody loves my baby Exactly like you Fidgety feet Five foot two, eyes of blue Foggy day in London Town Georgia on my mind Glad rag doll Glory of love Happy feet Hard-hearted Hannah Hello, Dolly |
High Society Hindustan Honey Hush Honeysuckle Rose House of the Rising Sun I ain't gonna give ....Jelly Roll I ain't got nobody I can't give you anything but love I double dare you I got rhythm I would do anything for you I’ll see you in my dreams Ice Cream I'm beginning to see the light I'm confessin' I'm gonna sit right down I'm in the mood for love In a Persian market Indiana Isle of Capri It had to be you It's a sin to tell a lie It's only a paper moon Jada Jazz-me blues Just a closer walk with thee Just a litle while to stay here Just squeeze me (Ellington) Kansas City Stomp Keyhole Blues King of the swingers Lady be good Lady is a tramp Lazy river Le marchand de poissons Les Oignons Let's be square and fair in love Lonesome road Louisiana Louisiana fairytale Making whoopee Mamma don't allow Manhattan Marching through Georgia Margie Maryland Mean to me Memphis blues Misty Mood Indigo Moon River Muskrat ramble My Blue Heaven My Monday Date My old Kentucky home My very good friend the milkman Nineteen - nineteen march Nobody knows you when you're down and out Nobody's sweetheart Old Rugged Cross Ole Miss Rag On the sunny side of the street Original Dixieland Onestep Over in the Gloryland Panama Rag Paper doll |
Pennies from Heaven Petite Fleur Please don't talk about me Rose Room Rosetta Royal garden Blues Rumpsteak Serenade Running wild Saratoga Swing Savoy blues Sensation Rag Shanty town Sheik of Araby Shimmy like my sister Kate Shine Show me the way to go home Side by side Sleepy time down south Some of these days Somebody stole my gal Someday Sweetheart Someday you'll be sorry South St. James' Infirmary St. Louis Blues Stars fell on Alabama Stomping at the Savoy Stranger on the shore Strutting with some barbecue Summertime Sweet Georgia Brown Sweet Loraine Sweet Sue Tain't no sin Teddy Bears' Picnic That's a plenty There will never be another you There'll be some changes made These foolish things Tiger rag Tin roof blues Tishimingo blues Try a little tenderness Undecided Under the bamboo tree Wabash blues Way down yonder in New Orleans Weary Blues When somebody thinks you're wonderful When the saints go marching in When you and I were young Maggie When you're smiling Whispering White cliffs of Dover Who's sorry now? Willie the weeper Wolverine blues Wrap up your troubles in dreams Yes sir! that's my baby You always hurt the one you love You took advantage of me You're driving me crazy |
Back to the top