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Jim Blackburn, Sax
- North Fort Myers, FL
- Saxophone Player
- Travels up to 90 miles
- $250 and up
- 1. The Girl From Ipanema
- 2. And I Love Her
- 3. For The Love Of You
- 4. Luminosa
- 5. Mas Que Nada (Wind Synth)
- 6. How Insensitive
- 7. Me and Mrs. Jones
- 8. Love Won't Let Me Wait
- 9. Just The Two Of Us
- 10. What's Goin' On?
- 11. Just My Imagination
- 12. Witchcraft
- 13. Misty
- 14. Mood Indigo
- 15. Take The A Train
- 16. On The Street Where You Live
- 17. Girl Talk
- 18. Moondance
- 19. Europa
- 20. Sugar
- 21. Crazy
- 22. Cry Me A River
- 23. Come Rain Or Come Shine
- 24. Fly Me to the Moon
- 25. Georgia
Overview
Jim is a multi-instrumentalist- tenor sax, keyboard and wind synthesizer utilizing backing tracks created with real musicians. Sounding as a jazz quartet, Jim's one-man band performs a variety of smooth jazz, ballads, swing and pop standards to keep your guests entertained for the entire event. Jim's music is a good fit for where background ambiance music is desired, such as dinners, cocktail hours, parties or corporate events. Consider having Jim's smooth sax sounds for your next event.
Note from Jim...I provide background ambiance music. With a wide variety of music styles, I am able to change my sets to meet the mood of the room. I dress for the event and strive to exceed expectations.
26 Reviews
Very professional, exactly what I wanted after reviewing other jazz entertainers. I highly recommend Jim, very friendly, played request and played the era of music that my son loves.
Saxophone Player
Response from Jim Blackburn, Sax:
Thank you for inviting me to be a part of your family for the evening!
Jim was absolutely perfect for our event - he was very professional, punctual, answered all my questions, and is a great musician. All of our attendees really enjoyed his music and I would highly recommend him.
Saxophone Player
Response from Jim Blackburn, Sax:
Thank you very much. It was a pleasure to work with you!
I would highly recommend Mr. Blackburn! Absolutely great! He was perfect for the occasion, very talented, kind and professional musician.
Saxophone Player
Jim performed at our wedding last weekend and he is amazing! His music is beautiful and was perfect for our wedding. He was very responsive during booking and the weeks leading up to our wedding. He played all of our requests and everyone at our event commented how much they loved his music! Thanks again Jim!
Saxophone Player
Response from Jim Blackburn, Sax:
I'm so glad to have been a part of your joyous day! Thank you for inviting me!
5 stars! Very talented
Woodwind Musician
Response from Jim Blackburn, Sax:
I enjoyed performing for your Mom, her friends, and your family. Your Mom really enjoyed her little birthday party!
Thank you for inviting me to play.
Easy to coordinate with - group loved his music. My sister was there and claimed it was the best she’s ever heard. BRAVO!
Swing Band
Response from Jim Blackburn, Sax:
Thank you for your rave review. I very much enjoyed performing for your Mom, sister & mom's friends. They all had a great time!
We hired Jim for a surprise 60th birthday for my dad. Jim was a real hit! He brought such great energy. He’s very talented and a pleasure to work with. We will definitely keep him in mind for future parties in FLA!
One Man Band
Response from Jim Blackburn, Sax:
Thank you for your kind review. Your family was great to perform for. I look forward to you next event!
Jim
Very professional, great performance, punctual.
Saxophone Player
Response from Jim Blackburn, Sax:
It was a pleasure to perform for You, Family & Friends at Toni and Alex's wedding.
Great venue, fun group of people. Thank you for inviting me to play!
He not only is a great musician and plays beautiful, but he is very pleasant and polite.
Everyone complimented us for his music. Thank you!
AWA Investment Advisors
Dale R Wolf
Saxophone Player
Response from Jim Blackburn, Sax:
It was most enjoyable to perform for you at your Holiday Event!
Thank you for Inviting me.
JIm
Thank you for a very soft jazz moment Jim
Easy Listening Band, Jazz Band, Saxophone Player
Would definitely recommend Jim for any event. His music was fantastic and I could listen to him perform all night long.
Saxophone Player
Jim played Saxophone at our fundraising event this past weekend which was a 1920's theme. He was absolutely fantastic. Everyone remarked about how fantastic he was. I would recommend him with confidence.
1920s Era Entertainment, Saxophone Player
So many of our guests stopped to rave about Jim’s performance! Thank you, Jim!
Easy Listening Band
Response from Jim Blackburn, Sax:
I was so please to be a part of your Daughter's special day, Thank you for inviting me to be a part of it! Bayshore Ranch is a wonderful venue and we had a perfect day.
Jim played at the cocktail sunset hour at the Ritz Carlton Beach Club in Sarasota Florida.
He was perfect--- from the musical selection to the pure beautiful sounds of his saxophone ....
we are very fortunate to have found him ...... he played non stop for an hour at the initial cocktail reception of the wedding reception... looking dapper too
....
Saxophone Player
Response from Jim Blackburn, Sax:
Patti,
Thank you for the kind words, it was a pleasure performing for you!
Tonight I had my wife's 50th birthday celebration, and Jim performed excellently. His play selection was outstanding, and it sat the atmosphere of our event. My wife and I was totally pleased. Many of our guests will definitely be requesting his services for future events.
Saxophone Player
Jim was outstanding, accommodating, and a phenomenal Entertainer. He played a large genre of music and all of our guest enjoyed every song he played. He will definitely be on the list for future events.
Saxophone Player
Mr. Blackburn was very punctual and attentive to our requests. He made our gathering as intimate and familiar as we wanted it. His music was soothing and entertaining, lively and fun at other times. He is very personable and it made our Saturday night a memorable experience as it had the perfect mixture of art and entertainment.I will hire him again for future events as I want to listen to the variety of genres from different times that he can play.
1950s Era Entertainment, 1960s Era Entertainment, 1970s Era Entertainment, 1980s Era Entertainment, Multi-Instrumentalist, Saxophone Player
Jim was fantastic for the event we held in a McDonald's restaurant. He is a total professional and perfectly set the tone for the Brunch event we were hosting. I highly recommend him for any event and certainly plan to book him again and again!
Saxophone Player
Jim did a fabulous job providing background music for our daughter's wedding cocktail hour & dinner. We corresponded with Jim a number of times via email to outline our thoughts for the event. Jim was always prompt in his response. Jim took our direction and planned a wide array of musical selections that was pleasing for all who attended. His music was entertaining, the volume level was perfect, and his proficiency amazing. Jim was a delight to work with and added such a special touch to our cocktail and dinner hour! The guests of all ages, loved the music he provided! I would highly recommend him to provide background music for any event that you may be planning. We look forward to booking Jim again for another future event! Bravo!
Saxophone Player
Jim Blackburn was absolutely perfect! His talent and professionalism was more than I had expected. It was the cherry on top of the ice cream!
I have many parties / events, and all my guests at this event were very impressed with Jim and his talent. I recommend hiring Jim Blackburn for your next event, if you really want to entertain your guests in style. Many Thanks to you Jim
1940s Era Entertainment, 1960s Era Entertainment, 1970s Era Entertainment, 1980s Era Entertainment, Saxophone Player
Jim was the best....he was prompt with his communication with us, courteous, gave me ideas for songs that I might use, and was a professional in all of his dealings with us. He stayed in touch with me regularly and was here to set up early, he complied with all of my requests. Thank you so much Jim, you made our wedding day very special!! Loyd and Freya Robbins
Our private club hired Jim Blackburn for a small event for about 50-60 members. He did an absolutely amazing job and impressed all of the members who attended. He arrived well in advance to make sure that he was set up on time before the event started. He brought his own lighting which was a perfect touch to the event. He was so great that a member hired in on the spot for their own private event. I would definitely recommend him to anyone looking for a professional musician!
Saxophone Player
Jim made my wedding ceremony and reception perfect! He was extremely helpful ahead of time to work with me on song selections and to help me focus on different parts of the entire evening. He even took time the day before to walk with me around the venue to ensure everything would go smoothly. His music was unbelievable and I was fortunate to have the evening videotaped so I am able to listen to it over and over. I hope I can find another occasion to hire him.
Saxophone Player
Response from Jim Blackburn, Sax:
Thanks Jenny!
Performing for this wedding was quite enjoyable, as I was the music from start to finish. I performed for the ceremony, cocktail hour and dinner. I was even able to provide a battery powered sound system so the person performing the wedding could be heard outside.
Mr. Blackburn played for our wedding on January 19th, 2013. It turned out AMAZING! My wife and I felt like we were on the top of the world. His soothing sax playing enlightened not only us but everybody in attendance. He can play any song you desire! I would definitely recommend him to anybody who would like to be swept off of their feet from the elegance of a amazing sax player.
Saxophone Player
I own a salon and have had Jim play for several of our events. He is a wonderful musician and he is so warm and personable our clients now ask me if we are going to have Jim play every time we post an event! He is simply the best!
Saxophone Player
Response from Jim Blackburn, Sax:
Patty, I always have a great time performing for you and your customers. Thank you for your repeat business!
Jim is an exceptional Sax player with a wide variety of music. He has been working in our restaurant Vino De Notte in downtown Fort Myers for several months and our guests love him.
Saxophone Player
Response from Jim Blackburn, Sax:
I have been performing at "Vino" since mid 2011, It is a great venue! The restaurant has a door to the street right by where I perform, and I place a speaker outside. From time to time, I am able to walk outside the restaurant & draw people in with my music. This has been especially effective on the nights of the monthly "Art Walk" & "Music Walk"!
Booking Info
Price Range: $250 and up
Gig Length: 60 - 180 minutes
Languages: English
Insurance: $1,000,000 - Commercial General Liability
What to Expect
I provide background ambiance music. My performances are well suited for restaurants, dinners, cocktail hours, parties, corporate events, etc. where mood music is preferred. I do no vocals with very little or no chatter on the microphone to detract from conversations in the room. I have a wide variety of music styles and I am able to change up my sets to meet the mood of the room, i.e. (ballads, smooth jazz, up tempo, standards, etc.) My accompaniment is studio quality backing tracks using real musicians. I dress for the event, I can be formal or casual. I use quality gear to prevent any equipment malfunctions and a wireless microphone is available for announcements if needed. I strive to provide more than expected.
About
I am a Solo Saxophonist using studio quality professional backing tracks for my band. I perform jazz and pop standards from the Great American Songbook, and Contemporary Smooth Jazz on Tenor Sax, Keyboard and Wind Synth. Playing music from the age of eight, I earned my B.S. in Music Education degree from the University of Akron (Ohio). Upon graduation, I became a high school band director, but found that my passion was performing professionally. I have played with a number of bands and jazz groups in Ohio and have opened for a number of headline performers. Since my move to Florida in 1996, I have worked as solo act. I bring quality gear and a professional attitude, providing instrumental background music well suited for dinners, cocktail hours, restaurants, private parties, fundraisers, funerals, etc. With over 750 tunes in my library and over 30+ years of professional experience, guests are sure to be entertained for the entire event.
Additional Booking Notes
Please provide me with room size & number of guests, so I may bring the size sound system required for your event. Let me know where in the room that I will be performing and if I will need to provide my own lighting. Small battery powered sound system is available for locations without power.
Services Offered
Set List
My entire set list is too lengthy to list. But, I perform a wide variety of material, and can change the mood in a moments notice if requested. My song list includes, but is not limited to:
JIM BLACKBURN SAMPLE SONGLIST – (Updated constantly)
Aint No Sunshine
Alfie
And I Love Her
Autumn Leaves
Dancin in the Streets
Days of Wine and Roses
Desafinado
Feel Like Makin Love
Fragile
Gentle Rain
Georgia on my Mind
Groovin
Hello
I Cant Tell You Why
If I Fell
Its Probably Me
Just Chillin’
Killer Joe
Misty (Rhodes)
My Cherie Amour
Nature Boy
The Nearness of You
Over The Rainbow
Ruby Baby
Stone Soul Picnic
Summertime
That's The Way of the World
This Guy's In love
Tune 88
Walk On By
What You Won't Do For Love
What's Goin' On
Windmills of Your Mind
Witchcaft
Rise
LATIN
Look Of Love
Call Me
How Insensitive
A Man And A Woman
Watch What Happens
Wave
Adios
The Breeze And I
What Now My Love
Black Orpheus
Quiet Night of Quiet Stars
MISC. Countless selections from the American Songbook
Desperado
Brown Eyed Girl
Moondance
Teach Me Tonight
New York State of Mind
When A Man Loves A Woman
At Last
Smile
Just Friends
Cold Duck Time
Just the Two of Us
Always A Woman
My Life
Just The Way You Are
Just My Imagination
This Masquerade
My Guy
My Love
Bluebird
Take Five- reggae version
Yesterday
Black Coffee
Fever
Harlem Nocturne
Hot Toddy
All In Love Is Fair
My Girl
Up On the Roof
Under the Boardwalk
You Make Me Smile
SMOOTH JAZZ
Spooky -David Sanborn
Blue Beach -David Sanborn
Slow Jam -Euge Groove
Stop, Look, Listen -Boney James
For the Love of You -Candy Dulfer
Faces of the Heart -Dave Koz
Just My Imagination -Euge Groove
S7ven Large -Euge Groove
September -Earth, Wind & Fire
Europa -Gato Barberi
Easy Come Easy Go -Paul Hardcastle
Sara Smile -Boney James
Slow Burn -Richard Elliot
Sunny -Kim Waters
Mornin -Al Jarreau
We're In This Love Together-Al Jarreau
Here And Now -Luther Vandross
Falling For You -The-Sax Pack
Besame Mucho -Kenny G
Forever In Love -Kenny G
Girl From Ipanema -Kenny G
Midnight Motion -Kenny G
Tango -Kenny G
Rhythm and Romance -Kenny G
Silhouette -Kenny G
Songbird -Kenny G
Give Me The Night -George Benson
Turn Your Love Around -George Benson
On Broadway -George Benson
Let's Stay Together - Marvin Gaye
Influences & Inspiration
Jazz trios/quartets of past eras. Newer artist such as Dave Koz, Richard Elliot, David Sanborn, Euge Groove.
Setup Requirements
Electricity
Minimal Stairs - I move gear on a cart
I approximately a 6 x 6' area for set up