- Jazz Age Playlist (Main Music)
Genres to Include:
- Swing and Hot Jazz: High-energy dance music
- Big Band: Bold, brassy sounds
- Charleston and Ragtime: Upbeat, rhythmic 1920s dance tunes
- Roaring ’20s Vocal Jazz: Classic crooners and female jazz vocalists
Featured Artists:
- Duke Ellington
- Louis Armstrong
- Bessie Smith
- Fats Waller
- Cab Calloway
- Ethel Waters
- The Original Dixieland Jazz Band
Modern Twists (Optional):
- Electro-swing or jazz remixes from groups like Postmodern Jukebox or Caravan Palace (great for dancing while keeping the theme)
- Ambient Background Sounds (During Arrival or Dinner)
Sound Elements:
- Soft jazz piano and saxophone
- Clinking glasses and murmured conversation (for a “speakeasy” ambiance)
- Gentle phonograph static or crackle to simulate vintage records
- Jazz club crowd murmur with piano and upright bass in background
Use Case:
- Play ambient sounds during cocktail hour, dinner, or when guests are mingling
- Helps set the tone without overpowering conversation
- Special Tracks for Key Moments
- Grand Entrance or Toast:
“Rhapsody in Blue” – George Gershwin
“It Had to Be You” – Isham Jones (1924 version) - Dance Floor Highlights:
“Sing, Sing, Sing” – Benny Goodman
“The Charleston” – James P. Johnson
“Puttin’ on the Ritz” – Fred Astaire - Late Night Wind-Down:
Soft ballads by Billie Holiday or instrumental jazz with slow tempo
- Music Delivery Options
- Create a Spotify or Apple Music playlist labeled “Gatsby Soirée” or “Roaring ’20s Party”
- Consider a live jazz trio or swing band if budget allows
- Rent or borrow a vintage-style phonograph speaker for visual impact (Bluetooth enabled)