Our base of operations is the 10 year period from 1925 to 1935 when these electronic developments came into common use and when the dance bands of the day were generally of the size we utilize--three brass, three saxophones and four rhythm. But we do allow ourselves the privilege of going both forward and backward in time to investigate particular styles and repertory. American popular music is a continuum, not a series of discrete styles.

We also have four singers as a part of the ensemble. A key decision of the Jazz Kings has been one of conscious compromise. A group such as ours would not have been found in 1930, except possibly in some related form in the aggregations of Paul Whitemen or Fred Waring. Singers were a late and often reluctant addition to dance bands, but we wanted to explore more than jazz and dance band repertory. Microphones came into use in the early '30s, but were initially not a major consideration, and certainly not the factor in presentation that they are today. We found out early on that sound amplification is something modern ears expect. Styles of singing and playing are compromises as well. One writer has remarked that if you want a singer who sounds '20s authentic, go out and find the worst possible male voice.

One final important consideration was that we would enjoy ourselves and have a good time! There is a strong element of humor in much of the music of this period sadly lacking in much of more recent popular music and jazz. So, we pick our programs with both authenticity and audience appeal in mind, and hope our audiences enjoy them as much as we do.