Jazz Swing Bands
Biography
Testimonials
Earl Okin
Based in London, Earl Okin is one of the world’s finest jazz and bossa nova singers, accompanying himself on guitar or piano as is most appropriate. He is also a fantastic songwriter and is renowned for his ‘vocal trumpet’ solos, in the tradition of the Mills Bros. Hire Earl Okin for your next event!
Biography
“…a great musician and showman.”
International Jazz Festival in The Hague
Based in London, Earl Okin is one of the world’s finest jazz and bossa nova singers, accompanying himself on guitar or piano as is most appropriate. He is also a fantastic songwriter and is renowned for his ‘vocal trumpet’ solos, in the tradition of the Mills Bros. Earl is available for online events.
He has worked alongside such musicians as Benny Carter, Joe Pass, Adelaide Hall, Stephane Grappelli and Barney Kessel, among others
He has performed at major jazz and cabaret venues around the world, from The Royal Albert Hall and Royal Festival Hall in London, to the Apollo Theatre in New York as well as jazz clubs like Birdland (New York), Ronnie Scott’s (London) and L’Archiduc (Brussels).
He has enjoyed great success at many international jazz festivals, including Brass Group Festival in Sicily, (Italy), The Edinburgh Jazz Festival, The Cork International Festival (Ireland) and The North Sea Jazz Festival (Holland).
Earl covers the classic jazz period (Duke Ellington, Hoagy Carmichael etc.) and specializes in bossa nova to such a high level that he has been invited to give concerts in Brazil, where he is also a favourite on TV.
Last but not least, he has entertained Queen Elizabeth II, The King and Queen of Sweden and many celebrities, and has performed at numerous corporate events too.
Earl Okin is perfect for: Weddings, birthdays, receptions, festivals, corporate events, jazz events, music events, hotel and restaurant entertainment, private functions
Read moreTestimonials
“If you ever have an opportunity to organize a musical event, invite Earl Okin – British; a great musician and showman. It had been a long time since I witnessed an artist win a crowd’s favour in two minutes. This happened last night at the North Sea. International Jazz Festival in The Hague
His music? You have to find this out for yourself. He sings (with a beautiful voice, perfect for the Brazilian/Jobim type of Bossa Nova songs he does). He plays guitar and piano. (He didn’t play piano at North Sea, but I have his Pitter Panther Patter and Blood Count on CD. Brilliant. Delivering the message, with good taste and ample technique).
A real treat is his ‘voice trumpet’: he can make those fantastic sounds that helped make the Mills Brothers famous. Earl’s inspiration here is clearly the early Duke Ellington horns. He can do an astonishing Whetsol. But he also did a brief Cootie, Brown and Bigard. Earl’s instrumental imitations are to my ears art – not just ‘funny’ or a novelty-type trick. They’re too good for that. It’s quality, for lack of a better word. How to incorporate Ellington in your music and make it work? Check out Earl. And yes, he does wear spats in public.”
LOEK HOPSTAKEN (Review of Earl’s first appearance at the North Sea Jazz Festival.
USA)
“You are quite a genius you are – you have managed to find a niche in Cabaret I have never seen nor heard before – you are simply brilliant. Hard to categorize – musician/comedian or what – I guess you are anything the audience wants to categorize you as long as they book you.
One must see you in person to “get you” – even though your musicianship is fantastic!!! Your guitar and especially piano playing is thrilling in all the genres!
One thing I gleaned from your performance is that one must “experience you” – live – “where you live – you need an audience! Those little nuances you have in your “kit” needs people to experience them..”
BUDDY BREGMAN (Legendary producer/arranger of the Ella Fitzgerald ‘Songbook’ series, who has worked with just about everybody, from Sammy Davis Jr. to Bing Crosby, etc…)
