Sonoran Jazz

Sonoran Jazz is based out of the Northeast Phoenix Area and performs at clubs, restaurants, corporate functions, private parties and weddings. Sonoran Jazz Project is a professional and versatile ensemble well suited for events ranging from casual to upscale.

More than a band, Sonoran Jazz (formerly Sonoran Jazz Project) is an association of the Phoenix Metro area's top jazz talent under the leadership of Matt Johnson. Sonoran Jazz is known for the high quality and professionalism of its musicians. Let us know what you need, we'll get it done.

Although straight-ahead jazz, funk fusion & latin jazz remains the primary focus musically, we have an extensive repertoire which includes a lot of dance music, motown, R&B and rock so we can be either the background music or the main attraction depending on nature of your event. We also DJ on our breaks to be sure that ALL your guests requests are honored.

We are scaleable - can perform as a trio all the way up to an 8 piece band depending on the need of the occasion. By default we come as a 6-piece (vocals, sax, piano, bass, drums & percussion).

GETTING MARRIED?

You'll be suprised at what we can do for you. We can provide music in the classical style for your ceremony, live jazz for your dinner and dance and party music for that portion of the evening if you need it. This consolidation of services, rather than having separate vendors for each, saves you money.

We really take the time to get to know you and your desires for your special day, planning with you every step of the way to make sure it all goes right. Just scroll down to view the testimonials - they say it better than we can.

WANT COOL AMBIENT BACKGROUND JAZZ FOR YOUR CORPORATE EVENT OR PARTY?

We're all about that. When you hire us for your event, you are getting the best in service. We set up where you need us to, dress how you need us to, start and stop when you need us to, and always maintain an appropriate volume. We want your repeat business and work hard to ensure your satisfaction in all areas.

Our corporate customers include: Microsoft Corporation, Lehman Brothers, United Healthcare, Diversified Healthcare, Phoenix Memorial Hospital, Wyst Office Products, HNTB Architecture, Kindred Healthcare, Google, and many others.

• 500 Miles High - Chick Corea
• A Foggy Day - Gershwin
• A Night In Tunisia - Dizzy Gillespie
• Afro Blue - Mongo Santamaria
• After Midnight - Clapton
• Ain't Nobody's Business - B.B. King
• Ain't Too Proud To Beg - The Temptations
• All Blues - Miles Davis
• All My Loving - the Beatles
• All of Me - Seymour Simons
• All The Things You Are - Hammerstein/Kern
• And I Love Her - the Beatles
• At Last - Etta James
• Autumn Leaves - Johnny Mercer
• Beautiful Love - Victor Young
• Better Together - Jack Johnson
• Black Friday - Steely Dan
• Black Magic Woman - Santana
• Black Orpheus - Louis Bonfi
• Blue Bossa - Kenny Dorham
• Blue In Green - Miles Davis
• Blue Trane - John Coltrane
• Blues For Alice - Charlie Parker
• Body and Soul - Ella Fitzgerald
• Brick House - The Commodores
• Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison
• Bye Bye Blackbird - Miles Davis
• Can You Feel The Love Tonight - Elton John
• Can't Help Falling In Love - Elvis Presley
• Cantaloupe Island - Herbie Hancock
• Cape Verdean Blues - Horace Silver
• Caravan - Duke Ellington
• Cheek to Cheek - Frank Sinatra
• Cisco Kid - War
• Cold, Cold Heart - Norah Jones
• Come Away With Me - Norah Jones
• Come Together - The Beatles
• Comes Love - Billy Holiday
• Corcovado - Antonio Carlos Jobim
• Corner Of The Earth - Jamiroquai
• Crazy - Gnarls Barkley
• Crazy - Patsy Cline
• Cry Me A River - Dianna Krall
• Desafinado - Antonio Carlos Jobim
• Disco Lady - Johnny Taylor
• Embraceable You - Gershwin
• Endless Love - Lionel Richie & Diana Ross
• Equinox - John Coltrane
• Everyday I Have The Blues - B.B. King
• Everything - Michael Buble
• Feeling Alright - Joe Cocker
• Fly Me To The Moon - Frank Sinatra
• Footprints - Wayne Shorter
• For Harry Carney - Radiohead
• Four - Miles Davis
• Four On Six - Wes Montgomery
• Freddie Freeloader - Miles Davis
• Georgia On My Mind - Ray Charles
• Get Ready - The Temptations
• Get Up Offa That Thing - James Brown
• Giant Steps - John Coltrane
• God Made Me Funky - Headhunters
• God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Unknown
• Good Morning Heartache - Billie Holiday
• Good Times - Chic
• Goodbye Pork Pie Hat - Charles Mingus
• Greensleeves - Unknown
• Groovin High - Dizzy Gillespie
• Guataca City - Paquito D'Rivera
• Harlem Nocturne - Earle Hagen
• Have You Met Miss Jones? - Rodger/Hart
• Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Martin/Blane
• Here There and Everywhere - The Beatles
• Hold On, I'm Coming - Sam & Dave
• Holiday Songs Galore - Various Artists
• Hot Stuff - Donna Summers
• Hound Dog - Elvis Presley
• I Got Rhythm - Gershwin
• I Love You - Cole Porter
• I Shot The Sheriff - Bob Marley
• I Was Made For Loving You - Kiss
• I Wish - Stevie Wonder
• I'll Be Home For Christmas - Gannon/Kent
• I'll Take You There - Staples
• Impressions - John Coltrane
• In The Midnight Hour - Wilson Picket
• Iron Man - Black Sabbath
• Isora Club - Israel Lopez Cachao
• I've Got You Under My Skin - Cole Porter
• Killer Joe - Benny Golson
• Killing Me Softly With His Song - Roberta Flack
• La Vie En Rose - Louis Armstrong
• Lady Madonna - the Beatles
• Late In The Evening - Paul Simon
• Let The Good Times Roll - B.B. King
• Let's Groove - Earth, Wind & Fire
• Let's Stay Together - Al Green
• Little Sunflower - Freddie Hubbard
• Long Train Runnin' - The Doobie Brothers
• L-O-V-E - Nat King Cole
• Love Me Tender - Elvis Presley
• Maiden Voyage - Herbie Hancock
• Mandinga - Ruben Gonzales
• Margaritaville - Jimmy Buffet
• Medication - Antonio Carlos Jobim
• Meditation - Antonio Carlos Jobim
• Mercy, Mercy, Mercy - Joe Zawinul
• Misty - Erroll Garner
• Moanin' - Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers
• Money - Pink Floyd
• Moondance - Van Morrison
• Morning Bell - Radiohead
• Mr. PC - John Coltrane
• Mustang Sally - Wilson Pickett
• My Romance - Rodgers & Hart
• Nature Boy - many
• New York State Of Mind - Billy Joel
• Oleo - Sonny Rollins
• Once I Loved - Antonio Carlos Jobim
• Orange Colored Sky - Natalie Cole
• Ornithology - Charlie Parker
• Oye Como Va - Tito Puente
• Pass the Duchie - Mighty Diamonds
• Play That Funk Music - Wild Cherry
• Play That Funky Music - Wild Cherry
• Recordame - Joe Henderson
• Respect - Aretha Franklin
• Rock With You - Michael Jackson
• 'Round Midnight - Thelonius Monk
• Route 66 - Bobby Troup
• Satin Doll - Duke Ellington
• Scrapple From The Apple - Charlie Parker
• Silent Night - Franz Gruber
• Sittin' On The Dock of the Bay - Ottis Redding
• Someday My Prince Will Come - Churchill
• Someone To Watch Over Me - Frank Sinatra
• Song For My Father - Horace Silver
• South Of The Waltz - Paquito D'Rivera
• St. Thomas - Sonny Rollins
• Stormy Monday - Tbone Walker
• Straight, No Chaser - Thelonius Monk
• Straighted Up and Fly Right - Natalie Cole
• Summertime - Gershwin
• Superstitious - Stevie Wonder
• Sway - Pablo Beltran Ruiz
• Sweet Georgia Brown - Bernie/Pinkard/Casey
• Take 5 - Paul Desmond
• Take the A Train - Ellington/Strayhorn
• Tell Me Something Good - Chaka Khan
• Tequila - from Pee Wee
• That's Amore - from The Caddy
• The Days of Wine & Roses - Henry Mancini
• The Flinstones
• The Girl From Ipanema - Antonio Carlos Jobim
• The Godfather Theme - Unknown
• The Man I Love - Gershwin
• The Second Time Around - Frank Sinatra
• The Way You Look Tonight - Tony Bennet
• There Is No Greater Love - Jones & Symes
• There Will Never Be Another You - Warren & Gordon
• This Will Be An Everlasting Love - Natalie Cole
• Thriller - Michael Jackson
• Under The Bridges of Paris - Eartha Kitt
• Unforgettable - Nat King Cole
• Upside Down - Jack Johnson
• Wang Dang Doodle - Koko Taylor
• Watermelon Man - Herbie Hancock
• Wave - Antonio Carlos Jobim
• Wee - Denzil Best
• What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
• What Am I To You - Norah Jones
• When I Fall In Love - Heyman/Young
• Why Can't We Be Friends - War
• Winter Wonderland - Felix Bernard
• You Are Too Beautiful - Rodgers/Hart
• z - And many more!

Anniversaries, Awards Nights, Banquets, Bar Mitzvahs, Birthday Parties, Celebrations, Christmas Parties, Clubs, Cocktail Parties, Community Events, Conventions, Corporate Functions, Country Clubs, Dinner Dances, Events, Family Reunions, Festivals, Fund Raisers, Graduation Parties, Grand Openings, Halloween Parties, New Year's Eve Parties, Private Parties, Restaurants, Reunions, School Assemblies, Weddings, Wedding Ceremonies, Wedding Cocktail Hours, Wedding Receptions...and more.

• Thank you Sonoran Jazz Project, you are an absolutely amazing and talented band! Matt worked closely with me and my husband to make sure what we wanted/needed for our wedding day was accomplished. They were completely accommodating from providing the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception music to guiding to reception timeline. Our families raved about the great music and helped to make it a truly amazing experience for everyone. Highly recommended!!! -Mr. and Mrs. Lerette -- Morgan L, Sedona, AZ, 10/8/2011
• Great people. Very very talented. Easy to work with. Accomodating. Does everything they can to make a great event. Would hire again in a moment! Matt Johnson, the leader of the group is a terrific guy. -- Lock C, Fountain Hills, AZ, 4/29/2011
• The band did an awesome job. They appealed to our entire crowd ranging in age from 40-85. We've been receiving rave reviews from the attendees (by email and in person). Thank you for making this event a huge success. The band was very professional; arriving on time and looking very sharp in costume. -- Sara G, Mesa, AZ, 3/19/2011
• The Sonoran Jazz Project was wonderful! A week later and I am still receiving compliments on the party, including the band, from our shareholders. Many Thanks and Happy Holidays! -- Eva C, Albuquerque, NM, 12/3/2010
• performance and professionalism far exceeded expectations. I would certainally use them again. -- Joe Z, Scottsdale, AZ, 5/8/2010
• Working with Matt was wonderful. He worked very hard to accomodate all my specific request and he did all this with very little time to work with. The addition of the "Sonoran Jazz Project" to my wedding reception added the perfect amount of class. Even the wedding cordinator who has worked with multiple weddings was very impressed and overwelmed on how great the band was. -- Jeremy F, Scottsdale, AZ, 11/7/2009
• The entire ensemble was dressed professionally, and conducted themselves in a manner consistent with our corporate expecations. We wish to thank Matt and his group for their excellent standards and amazing talents. We will look forward to our next booking. -- Ron B, Phoenix, AZ, 6/23/2009
• They far exceeded our expectations and were most accomodating at all times. -- Esme C, Scottsdale, AZ, 10/19/2008
• We were very pleased with Sonoran Jazz Project and would highly recommend their band to others. Everyone at our Open House thoroughly enjoyed their music. -- Sarah P, Scottsdale, AZ, 6/11/2009
• In meeting with Matt of the Sonoran Jazz Project, we were happy to hire them for our wedding. Matt was absolutely a pleasure to work with, came up to the rehearsal to be sure everything was executed smoothly and their performance the day of was wonderful. I would absolutely recommend the SJP for an event that you are looking for enjoyable music to entertain your guests while they mingle and enjoy themselves. -- Kristin F, Scottsdale, AZ, 3/1/2008
• We were very please and happy with Sonoran Jazz project especially with such late notice. It was by far a wonderful addition to our party. Thank you! -- Marcia C, Peoria, AZ, 2/1/2008
• Wonderful. Look forward to working with them again. -- Marilyn T, Scottsdale, AZ, 12/15/2007
• They were marvelous at our event. Our attendees enjoyed their music and were very complimentary all night of the band. -- Nikki K, Phoenix, AZ, 11/29/2007
• I thought they did a wonderful job. We received many compliments from our guests on the band. I would definitley hire them again. -- Brandi P, Scottsdale, AZ, 4/7/2007
• Sonoran Jazz Project was fabulous! They were very easy to work with and I will definitely use them again. Thanks! -- Michelle H, Prescott, AZ, 10/7/2006
• My wife and I are VERY pleased with Sonoran Jazz Project. Matt worked with us to make our event very effortless. The atmosphere that they provided was exactly what we had in mind, and the level of professionalism and ability far exceeded our expectations! Thank you Matt, and please pass on our gratitude to your entire ensemble! We will definitely book SJP in the future!! Joe and Kristina Becker -- George B, Tuscon, AZ, 5/23/2011

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