Flatirons Jazz Orchestra

Expect the highest levels of professionalism, musicianship and stagecraft.

Expect what you might see at the Savoy or the Cotton Club in 1942. A big, exciting sound and everyone dressed to the nines.

Expect a group that is flexible, accommodating and easy to work with. FJO is composed of the areas finest working musicians and music educators.

Expect to pay more. This band is BIG! 5 Saxes, 4 Trombones, 4 Trumpets, Piano, Guitar, Bass, Drums, plus one of the finest jazz singers in the country. We make a big sound, indoors or out, with minimal amplification. It takes 20 people to do our show. No matter what they say, you really can't do Big Band with a 7-piece combo.

Nothing creates excitement like a REAL Big Band, blowing live breath through live horns. Just imagine, 18 instrumentalists and a singer, who play with passion, energy, and love of the music. We have our own PA and sound engineer. Our shows range from romantic ballads to exciting Foxtrot and Jitterbug tempos that will have everyone dancing.

This is one of the most elegant bands in Colorado. Rather than rockers in raged jeans, the Flatirons Jazz Orchestra dresses dinner-formal.

Exciting, elegant and fun, the Flatirons Jazz Orchestra - featuring Deborah Stafford, recreates the romance and excitement of the Swing-Era, featuring the music of Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Glenn Miller, Stan Kenton, Gene Krupa, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Buddy Rich, and jazz royalty from the The Birth of Swing to Modern Times.
We play in regular rotation at all of the big dance venues in the Front Range, including:
Dazzle Jazz
Buffalo Rose Event Center
Dickens Opera House
Avalon Ballroom
Mercury Cafe
Caribou Room
Curtis Ballroom
Concerts and festivals including:
WWII Ball
1940's White Christmas Ball
Winter Park Rendezvous Park Concert Series
Longmont Jazz Festival
Estes Park Big Band Bash
Capital Hill People’s Fair
Boulder SpringFest
Boulder Jazz and Art Festival
plus weddings, fundraisers and corporate events

Imagine, a night out at The Cotton Club, dressed in tux, tails and furs. It’s New York, 1939, the era of the big bands. The stage is loaded with a grand piano, 5 saxes, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, an upright bass, guitar, drums and a lovely lady singer. You take your escort by the hand, and step out into the crowded dance floor, you spirits lifted by the music, practically floating.

Perfect for a “Great Gatsby,” “Casino Royal,” or “USO Show” theme party. Any time you want very classy and exciting entertainment.

We cover it all, from a quiet cocktail hour quartet to an elegant evening of ballroom dancing: Charleston, Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, Rumba, Jump, even Cha Cha Cha. Perfect for weddings, receptions, parties, festivals and corporate events.

We can dress jazz-festival casual to tux-&-tails formal. We happily accommodate special requests, and can plan a show they’ll be talking about for years. Call us to explore alternate configurations, from cool quartet to a full-size Jazz Orchestra.

Our fees include travel, booking fees, and even our own PA system and engineer, saving you hundreds of dollars.

FJO References (call them!)
“Your group provided the magic touch elevating our event to the highest standards we could expect. The ambiance and class you provided for the evening was absolutely beautiful. Everyone commented on the group’s performance. Thank you for partnering with the Shining Stars! We are so very grateful.” -- Kathy Gingery, Founder & CEO, Shining Stars Foundation, (phone number hidden)

"Flatirons Jazz Orchestra is simply one of the best bands I've ever heard. These are the best musicians around, and as a larger group, their complexity of sound really fills out a room and does justice to the great swing-era charts.” — Susan Olenwine, Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra, (phone number hidden)

“The Flatirons Jazz Orchestra is a first-class professional band, with talent to spare! We had a lovely summer-back-yard-under-the-tent celebration of the season with 200 guests, who danced into the night with abandon. It was so memorable we immediately booked them again for next year. They are thoroughly outstanding and a pleasure to do business with. My guests would all recommend them to anyone interested in a magical big band.” –Tim Boddington, (phone number hidden)

All we need are chairs. A raised stage is optimal, but not required. If you have an acoustic piano available, we will use it. We bring our own backline, sound engineer,and PA system, including a wireless mic you can use for announcements, toasts or speeches, saving you HUNDREDS of dollars in equipment rental fees.