FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS)
Weren't there more of you at one time?
What is the instrumentation and who are the players?
How did you all meet?
Do you have preformatted sets when you perform?
Do you know more songs than are listed in the songlist?
How do you dress for a wedding?
How do you dress for a corporate event?
Do you book through an agent?
What do you do for the formalities at a wedding?
Do you sing us through the cake cutting?
How many breaks do you take?
Do you play CD's during the breaks?
Weren't there more of you at one time?
Java Jive has always been three men. Tom and Chuck are the original creators of Java Jive, since 1982. Don started with the band in September of 1989, replacing Phil Arsenault, who had replaced Steve Moore in 1986.
Occasionally, at the client's request and for an additional fee, a female singer will be added to the group.
top
top
What is the instrumentation and who are the players?
Tom performs on keyboards, vocals, and trombone.Tom graduated from the University of Lowell in 1983 with a degree in music education. He began his performance career in the summer of 1973 as a solo artist on Cape Cod. His career underwent dramatic changes during the period of 1974-1978 while he was "on tour" across the United States and Canada with 8 piece showbands, performing on piano, trombone, and voice. The experience of arranging special material for the shows of these bands prepared him for his next venture. In 1981, he arranged and co-produced the musical revue "Lullaby of Swing" which ran in Honolulu, Hawaii from the fall of 1981 until the fall of 1982 with a cast of 12 talented singers and dancers. As production manager, male dance captain, and musical arranger he had to adapt the show to changing personnel. It was during this period that he met Chuck Garrett.
Chuck performs on keyboards, vocals, trumpet, and handles most of the MC duties.Chuck attended The University of Nevada at Las Vegas with a full scholarship and graduated with a degree in vocal pedagogue in 1974. He was raised in Newport, Rhode Island. His first professional experiences were in Newport when, as just a teenager, he was invited to sing with many of the top jazz artists thriving in that city. From Newport he ventured to New York City and performed in Greenwich Village during the late sixties. After receiving his degree, he formed his own "Show Band" and toured extensively across the United States and Canada for the next several years. His uncanny ability to perform accurate vocal impressions of famous singers won him praise across the country. He was featured in the "Lullaby of Swing" musical revue on trumpet as well as voice.
Don performs on keyboards, vocals, and trumpet.Don graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Lowell in 1985 with degrees in both Music Education and Jazz Studies. Upon graduation, he taught music in the Westwood Massachusetts Public School System for four years. While teaching, he also played trumpet and sang with several local bands and appeared on lead trumpet for Gloria Loring in concert with Tony Bennett when they appeared in Lowell. He was fortunate to have been able to study voice with the famous Eddie Watson, the Boston "Guru of Voice". He joined Java Jive in 1989 and has enhanced the group with his strong lead trumpet, dynamic voice, and keyboard technology artistry.
top
How did you all meet?
Chuck and Tom met in Hawaii while performing in "The Lullaby of Swing Show." Don and Tom met in college.
top
top
Do you have preformatted sets when you perform?
Do you know more songs than are listed in the songlist?
How do you dress for a wedding?
How do you dress for a corporate event?
Again, that's up to the client. We have several suits and tuxes to choose from, but with appropriate notice and sometimes reimbursements, we'll dress to meet the theme of the party, i.e.. cowboy, 50's, etc.
top
top
Do you book through an agent?
We are available through any source that you may choose. Either directly or through an agency, Tom handles all of the business arrangements.
top
top
What do you do for the formalities at a wedding?
About one month before a wedding, we will call to meet with the bride and groom to discuss the logistics of the wedding. At this meeting all the details are covered, including: how to be announced in, when the cake cutting will be, first dance, last dance, parent's dances, bouquet toss, etc. We don't insist that you follow one format, it's your day not ours. We will help in pointing out the "pros and cons" of the different timings for things. We treat every event as unique and try to meet every clients needs.
top
top
Do you sing us through the cake cutting?
If that is your desire! We don't do the "High Ho, the Derry O" song though. We've created our own song to guide you through each step of the cake cutting. However, if you'd prefer to have us play background music while you cut the cake, that's fine too.
top
top
How many breaks do you take?
Music is continuous at a Java Jive event since Java Jive provides prerecorded music during the breaks.
At a function, the timing of the "breaks" depends on the timing of the meal and other events. Generally, at a 4 hour function, the main course is served between 1 to 1 1/2 hours into the reception, at which time we break for about 1/2 hour to have our dinner. Then we play for about an hour, take a 20 minute break and then play until the end. We've found this to work best in terms of pacing the party. Once the main course is served, most people don't care to have the band playing. We've found the even "set approach" of 45 minutes on and 20 minutes off to not follow the pace of the reception in most situations.
top
top
Do you play CD's during the breaks?
We have preformatted music to play during the breaks. Clients may also opt to make their own CD's for the breaks.
top
top