BIG SWING AND THE BALLROOM BLASTERS
Big-Band Sound. Big-Stage Excitement.
Big Swing and the Ballroom Blasters® is a blast from the past and the best party music of today. Assembled to recreate the excitement of the world-famous Cotton Club in New York where the rich and famous danced to the greats like Cab Calloway and Duke Ellington, Big Swing and the Ballroom Blasters combines Swing, Motown, Soul, Rock and Current dance music into a powerful and energetic non-stop show.
But don’t let the name BIG SWING fool you. With over 800 songs to choose from, you can customize your song list to suits your needs. Want 100% swing? No problem! Want 100% 70s, 80s and current dance? No problem!
Built around the philosophy that when a band takes a break, it kills the momentum of the party, they take NO breaks and can play up to six hours NON-STOP!
BIG SWING AND THE BALLROOM BLASTERS PLEASES ALL AGES AND TASTES!
Whether you’re interested in a swinging sound, or the full blast of world-class horns and amazing female vocals on a current dance hit, Big Swing and the Ballroom Blasters is sure to please your most discerning and diverse guests. Start with a few tunes from the early jazz era of the Cotton Club and then JUMP into the best from the 70s, 80s, 90s and today!
BIG SWING AND THE BALLROOM BLASTERS – CLASSY OR SASSY – YOU SET THE MOOD
Looking for Big-Stage impact? Prefer something modern and approachable? No matter the style of your event, Big Swing and the Ballroom Blasters offers costuming and staging options that fit perfectly. White tuxes, top hats and tails… or cool urban sophisticate… we’ll be a tailored part of your special occasion.
Big Swing and the Ballroom Blasters offers only the best in:
- Five Fabulous Male and Female Vocalists
- Presented with four or eight horns
- Trio available for cocktail hour or dinner set
- Horns available as a second line to lead guests
- State of the Art Sound and Lights
- Incredible attention to detail leading up to your event
- Happy to learn special dance songs
Book the band who have performed with:
- Legendary Earth, Wind and Fire Lead Vocalist Phillip Bailey
- Former Tonight Show Band Leader Branford Marsalis
- Members of Rascal Flatts, Hootie and the Blowfish and Sister Hazel
- World Class Drummer and Earth, Wind and Fire Drummer – Sonny Emory
Opened For:
- The Temptations
- The Four Tops
- The Doobie Brothers
- Pitbull
- B-52’s
- Chicago
- Christina Aguilera
- Kidd Rock
- Snoop Dogg
- ZZ Top
- Leann Rimes
- Missy Elliott
- Jewel
- Trace Adkins
- Burt Bacharach
- Dierks Bentley
- George Thorogood
Members have performed with:
- Outkast
- Aretha Franklin
- Earth, Wind and Fire
- Cameo
- Justin Bieber
- Jamelle Monae
- Johnny Gill
- The SOS Band
- Jennifer Lopez
- Lionel Richie
- Stevie Wonder
- Bobby Brown
- Bobby Mc Pherrin
MOTION GRAPHIC DANCE FLOOR
Design your dance floor and watch as it moves to the music! With our new Motion Graphic Dance Floor option, you have the ability to customize the look of your dance floor with one of our 96 different programmable designs. You can even include special messaging or a logo to support your event’s theme. Designed by a DJ, this option is sure to get your guests in the party spirit as they dance the night away!
Cocktail Hour/Dinner Set
If you desire musical ambience as your guests arrive, during cocktail hour or as a soft accompaniment to your dinner, enjoy our quartet featuring drums, piano, bass and saxophone. Our repertoire spans almost every genre of music including soft jazz, Broadway classics, movie theme songs, easy listening pops and light Gospel standards.
You can also expand the quartet performance with some sultry vocals from one of our singers or some jazzy horns from our talented ensemble. For that special “intimate touch,” another popular option with our clients is having one of our talented keyboardists as a solo pianist.
“The quartet played during dinner and my wife, a jazz pianist herself, was literally brought to tears as she listened. Awesome!” – Steven Kincaid, Tampa, FL
DJ for Event or After Party
Incorporate our featured DJ into your event, wedding or after party. During our live performances, our DJ is available as a pre or post party host and mixes. Or enjoy them as a stand-alone as they spin the hottest tracks of the 80s, 90s, and today as well as all the standard party tunes.
Drum Line
Add a four-piece “Marching Band Style” authentic drum line to your wedding or event. Complete with Marching Snare, Marching Bass, Marching Tom Tom and Quad Drums, a Drum Line it is a unique and interesting way to introduce the bride and groom, to kick off your private party, open sessions for a corporate event or lead guests from one area to another.
Roof-Raising Choir
Infuse your guests with joy and let the positive energy flow as The Higher Power singers take the stage. Featuring world-class vocals and a wide-ranging musical repertoire, Higher Power ignites the audience, transforming all your party-goers into party-makers – lifting their hands into the air and bringing their feet to the dance floor.
Higher Power Features:
- 8 lead vocalists
- Song variety – from Southern Gospel to today’s dance hits
- Striking costume options
“As musical director for Gladys Knight for 20 years as well as stints with Marvin Gaye, Barry White and Diana Ross, I have pretty much seen it all. I can tell you the “magic” that Higher Power brings to the show you can only get in a Gospel church on Sunday morning. The raw energy and vocal power rivals anything I have seen on the road in my 30 years in the biz.” –
Spencer Bean
String Quartet
Enjoy the romantic, expressive and refined sounds of a classical quartet or a full and energetic electric quartet during your cocktail hour or reception. A harp soloist or classic guitar soloist are also available if you would like to feature graceful beauty of these instruments at your event. Read more. (can we do a pop up or accordion for the copy below?)
Dallas String Quartet (DSQ) Electrics is an international ensemble based in Dallas playing contemporary music on electric string instruments. They have released three albums, Electric (2011), Red (2012), and Between Us (2014), and have a large following on Pandora, Sirius Xm and other radio stations. DSQ performs intimately as a quartet or with a full ensemble of drums, guitars, etc. for high-energy shows.
The quartet has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, and on A&E, CW33, and other networks. In addition to touring and performing internationally, DSQ has played “at home” for Presidents Obama and Bush, and the NBA and NFL organizations. They have opened for artists such as Air Supply and Kenny G, and have played alongside Josh Groban, Chicago and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Comprised of violinists Tatiana Glava and Melissa Priller, violist Ian Zanca and cellist Gaston Colloca, DSQ takes you on a journey to the nexus of classical music and modern pop where artists like Beethoven and Bono collide.
“DSQ ended their performance with a cover of Guns N’ Rose’s “Sweet Child of Mine” that just floored everyone in the building.” – Red Carpet Crash Review
Bride & Groom Intro/Exit
You just got married. Doesn’t that deserve a super cool introduction? Consider horns or a drum role before you officially make your first public appearance as man and wife. Or, perhaps you have a horn or drum role as you head out to the car to make your exit.
Go All The Way. Supercharge It!
Meet BIG SWING DANCE EXPERIENCE, the band that brings a national act-caliber feel to your wedding, corporate event or private party.
Jerry Freeman
Big Blast And The Party Masters Band Leader
Grammy Award Winning Artist Jerry Freeman started his career playing with big-band greats such as Lionel Hampton and Dizzy Gillespie and his career just skyrocketed from there. Check out Jerry’s amazing journey & all the greats he has performed with over the years!
- 1988, 90, 93-Performed three European tours for The North Sea & Montreux Jazz Festivals
- 1989-Performed with Jazz Legend Dizzy Gillespie
- 1990-Performed and recorded with Jazz Legend Vibraphonist Lionel Hampton
- 1996-Toured with Earth Wind & Fire as Lead Trumpet player for their 1st Australian Tour
- 1996-Recorded & Toured with Cameo
- 1998- Established Hornz Unlimited Brass Section
- 1998- Primary Brass recording and touring section for Grammy Award Winning, Multi-Platinum and Diamond selling Recording Artist Outkast
- 2003-Performed on Grammy Awards show feature with Outkast and Earth Wind & Fire
- 2005-Recorded on Sly and the Family Stone Tribute Album (Different Strokes by Different Folks)
- 2005-Recorded with Jennifer Lopez (Rebirth)
- 2006-Recorded with Lionel Richie (Coming Home)
- 2006-Recorded album(s) with John Legend (Once Again) and in 2008 (Evolver)
- 2007-Established Big Swing and the Ballroom Blasters
- 2007-Recorded on Earth Wind and Fire Album; Interpretations
- 2010-Recorded and Toured with Grammy nominated recording artist Janelle Monae (ArchAndroid) and in 2013 (Electric Lady)
- 2013-Produced video soundtrack for Go Daddy Founder Bob Parsons in support of the Semper Fi Fund that raised $20 million for wounded, critically ill, and injured veterans for all members of the of the US Armed Forces and their families
- 2013-Big Swing Performed with Philip Bailey of Earth Wind & Fire
- 2014-Recorded on Aretha Franklin Tribute Album (Aretha Sings the Great Diva Classics)
- 2013-Toured and Recorded multiple albums with Maroon Five Artist; PJ Morton
- 2013- Recorded with the late Icon Prince on the Janelle Monae album (Electric Lady)
- 2003-2013: Performed multiple times on The Tonight Show, David Letterman, Saturday Night Live, Ellen Degeneres, The American Music Awards, The Kids Choice Awards and MTV Video Awards
And, last not but not least, one of Jerry’s most precicous accomplishments is that he is a husband and father of two wonderful children!
Customize Your Event With Our Ultimate Song List!
We’ll work with you to make sure we play only your favorite types of music. The song list below is representative of the various musical styles and genres we play, but it’s only a small sampling of what we can do. To view Big Swing And The Ballroom Blasters complete song list, download the PDF below.
- Ariana Grande- Problem (feat. Iggy Azalea)
- Capital Cities- Safe and Sound
- Ellie Goulding- Burn
- Katy Perry- Dark Horse
- Lorde- Royals
- Bruno Mars- Treasure
- Sam Smith- Stay With Me
- Aretha Franklin- Respect
- Beatles- Come Together
- Black Eyed Peas- I Gotta Feeling
- Cameo- Word Up
- Cher- Believe
- Chubby Checker- The Twist
- CUPID- Cupid Shuffle
- Earth, Wind & Fire- September
- Gloria Gaynor- I Will Survive
- Gotye- Somebody I Used to Know
- Heatwave- Boogie Nights
- Justin Timberlake- My Love
- Lady Gaga- Poker Face
- Norah Jones- Fly With Me
- Phil Collins- You’ll Be In My Heart
- Tina Turner- Rock Me Baby
Want To Take Your Next Event to the Next Level? SUPERCHARGE IT!