Q & A
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the size of The Ray Birely Big Band?
A. 17 instrumentalists and 1 or 2 vocalists, male/female. We do, on occasion, use 13 instrumentalists and 1 vocalist, if necessary, due to the size of the venue or budget.
Q: How much does it cost to hire The Ray Birely Big Band?
A.This depends upon the length of the performance and how far we have to travel. Our arrangements for the full orchestra sound best with 17 instrumentalists; the least we can use is 13. Remember there are smaller bands that say they play "big band music" but these are not the true big band sound.
Q:How will I know if The Ray Birely Big Band will physically fit into our venue?
A. Contact our Music Director, Rocky, to discuss details.
Q: How far will the band travel for an event?
A.So far we have performed in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and the Baltimore-Washington, D.C. area. Location, time, and budget are all determining factors. Contact our Music Director, Rocky, to discuss details.
Q: Where can I see The Ray Birely Big Band perform?
A. Many of our performances are for private affairs, organizations, corporations, etc. We do, however, perform for some public affairs. Check out the "Calendar of Events" on the website. A five minute demo CD and brochure are available upon request.
Q:What is The Rocky Birely Combo?
A.The Rocky Birely Combo consists of a 2-3 piece rhythm section (piano, bass, drums) vocal and saxophone. We play swing, jazz, blues, ballads, waltzes, latin, etc., excellent for events at a smaller venue or with a smaller budget. The Combo is well-suited to jazz brunches, cocktail parties and smaller wedding receptions where this style of music is desired.
Q: What is the Rocky Birely Tenor Band?
A. The Rocky Birely Tenor Band offers a society style of music which was popular in the large hotels of major cities in the 1930's. The Tenor Band, comprised of 2 or 3 tenor saxophones, trumpet, piano/bass, and drums, plays medleys of the beautiful, timeless music of the 30's and early 40's. The Tenor Band is great for special occasions such as golden wedding anniversaries, special events at retirement homes, and any other event where this "period" of music is desired.
The Brass Section
