Sultans Big Band 

Unrelenting swing, ballroom dances, lilting ballads, irresistible two-beat society rhythm, the "right" tempos for fancy dancing, great tunes and the best vintage dance band arrangements from the 1930's and 1940's played by first-rate musicians--these are the hallmarks of one of Washington's premier rhythm machines.

This is the music of the jitterbug generation and World War II: Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Tommy Dorsey, Bob Crosby, played in their classic versions, along with other favorites of the times.  ----> Tune list

It is also the 2-beat society dance music played during the 1930's, before the Big Band era, the golden age of classic American Broadway and movie musicals: 42nd Street, Golddiggers of 1933, Busby Berkeley, Fred Astaire, Cole Porter, Gershwin, the Cotton Club--classic tunes as they were heard originally in hotels, on records, and on the radio; many of the tunes are standards even today. Whether for dancing, or as background for banquets or receptions, this is enjoyable music for any genteel affair.  ----> Tune List

Instrumentation:

2 trumpets, trombone, 3 saxophones, piano, bass, drums, guitar. Optional: male vocalist, female vocalist, 1-3 violins

Swing era tunes

A-tisket a-tasket (Webb)  
All of me  
All the things you are  
As time goes by  
Begin the beguine (Shaw)  
Bei mir bist du schoen  
Blue skies  
Boo hoo  
Boogie woogie (T. Dorsey)  
Boogie woogie maxixe (Crosby)  
Caravan (Ellington)  
Celery stalks at midnight  
Chattanooga choo choo (Miller)  
Cherokee (Basie)  
Choo choo ch'boogie  
Christopher Columbus  
Cocktails for two  
Daddy  
Dancing in the dark  
Deep purple  
Do nothing til you hear from me (Ellington)  
Don't be that way (Goodman)  
Down South camp meeting  
     (Goodman)  
Early morning blues  
Elmer's tune (Miller)  
Goodbye (Goodman)  
How high the moon  
I can't get started (Berigan) 
I cover the waterfront (Shaw) 
I cried for you  
I'll see you in my dreams  
I'm beginning to see the light  
I'm getting sentimental over you (T. Dorsey)  
I've heard that song before  
In the mood (Miller)  
Indian love call (Shaw)  
Indiana (Clinton)  
It had to be you (Goodman)  
Jeepers creepers  
Johnson rag  
Jumpin' at the Woodside  
Laura  
Let me off uptown (Krupa)  
Let's dance (Goodman)  
Little brown jug (Miller)  
Mean to me  
Moonglow  
Moonlight serenade (Miller)  
My blue heaven  
My heart belongs to Daddy  
On the sunny side of the street  
Opus One (T. Dorsey)  
Out of nowhere  
Panama (Crosby)  
Pennsylvania 65000 (Miller)  
Penthouse serenade  
S'Wonderful  
Sent for you yesterday (Basie) 
Sentimental journey  
720 in the booksSing, sing, sing (Goodman)  
Skylark  
Smoke rings  
Softly as in a morning sunrise (Shaw) 
Some enchanted evening  
Song of India (Dorsey)  
South Rampart Street parade (Crosby)  
Stompin' at the Savoy (Goodman)  
String of pearls (Miller)  
Summertime  
Sunrise serenade (Miller)  
Swanee River (T. Dorsey)  
Sweet Georgia Brown  
Take the A-train (Ellington)  
Taking a chance on Love  
There will never be another you  
This love of mine (T. Dorsey)  
Tuxedo Junction (Miller)  
2:00 jump (James)  
Two sleepy people  
Well get it (T. Dorsey)  
What is this thing called love (Shaw)  
What's new? (Crosby)  
Where or when  
Woodchopper's ball (Hermann)  
Yesterdays (Shaw)  
You made me love you (James
 
The tunes listed above can be combined with the following "Promenade Orchestra" arrangements, for a nice blend of fox trots, jitterbugs and two-beat society rhythms. The band usually mixes in some ballroom dances--Latins, Waltzes, etc., and for variety, it re-forms into several different smaller group formats, including a dixieland band.

1930's 2-beat tunes

The "sweetness" and sound of these tunes is greatly enhanced by the addition of 1-3 violins.
 
42nd Street  
A fine romance  
Are you having any fun  
As times goes by  
Between the devil and the deep blue sea  
Beyond the blue horizon  
Blue skies  
Brother can you spare a dime  
Cheek to cheek  
Continental  
Dames  
Don't blame me  
Don't let it bother you  
Easy to love  
Everyone says "I love you."  
Flying down to Rio  
Gold Digger's (We're in the money)  
Good night sweetheart  
Got a date with an angel  
Here comes Emily Brown  
Here lies love  
How deep is the ocean  
I cover the waterfront  
I don't know why  
I found a million dollar baby  
I get a kick out of you 
I only have eyes for you  
I thank you Mr. moon  
I won't dance  
I've got my fingers crossed  
I've got the world on a string  
I've got to sing a torch song  
I've got you under my skin  
If I had a talking picture of you  
In the still of the night  
Is it true what they say about Dixie?  
Isn't it romantic  
Isn't this a lovely day to get caught in the rain  
It don't mean a thing if it aint't got that swing  
It's only a paper moon  
Let yourself go  
Let's face the music and dance  
Little girl  
Louise  
Lovely Lize Lee  
Makin' whoopee  
Moon over Miami  
Moonlight saving time  
My baby just cares for me  
My sweet tooth says I wanna but my wisdom tooth says no 
Nagasaki  
Nevertheless  
New Orleans  
Night and day  
No strings  
One hour with you  
Please  
Puttin' on the ritz  
Rain, rain go away  
Roll on, Mississippi, roll on  
Say it  
Should I  
Shuffle off to Buffalo  
Sittin' up waitin' for you  
Stardust  
Stay as sweet as you are  
Stormy weather  
Strangers  
Summertime  
The object of my affection  
The Very thought of you  
Time on my hands  
Top hat, white tie and tails  
What would happen to me  
When its sleepy time down South  
You brought a new kind of love to me  
You're getting to be a habit with me
 
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Revised 11/3/99