hey

my new school music teacher wants the sixth form to have some really good music groups, after not having anything decent for years. im in upper six, and wanna set up a jazz band (playing piano, not horn!) and was wondering which instruments i want.

i know i need bass, drums and piano, but do i need guitar, trumpet, sax, clarinet?

For a jazz ensemble that really cooks you're going to need minimum: drums, bass, piano (or guitar) and a purely lead instrument like: saxophone, trumpet, trombone, clarinet, violin or lead guitar.

Have fun!

Violinia

Note that if you can get someone really good, double bass is better than electric bass in a jazz band

Yeah double bass would be cool, your more likely to find a bass guitar player though, and it may be harder to find a bass guitar player who actually reads music as well.

I think guitar, bass, drums and piano would sound really nice. The guitarist being able to double on on either chords or solo playing to give the pianist a bit of space to breath.