Touring and traveling with a 6 piece jazz band is a costly ambition. Flights, rental cars, hotels, decent food and other expenses are easy to add up to impressive numbers. Let alone the costs of travel days or 'in between' days, without concerts. So we changed the approach to touring, making sure we bring some efficiency to our concerts without loosing the sparkle of playing and the experience on stage.
Instead of traveling with six musicians, we travel with two or three. The other musicians are carefully sourced locally. So it's always James and Eelco, with the best musicians from the area where we are playing. Since a significant part of our music is spontaneous and full of improvisation, yet the set list is widely known by many jazz musicians, this approach doesn't just deliver better economics. It adds spontaneity to each show and lots of fun. Don't confuse a 'Back To Louis' show with a jam session though. James' talent for entertainment is leading. All others blend in that vibe bringing many years of experience to the stage. Happy music played skillfully and with great spontaneous interaction between the musicians. Feedback from our audiences always point that part out.
Another advantage to this approach is reciprocity. Those great musicians have a strong network of their own and can bring a Back To Louis show to clubs and festivals in their city and country. The advantage for a festival organizer evidently is an international act on stage for 'national' money and very reasonable additional costs for travel and stay. Some bookers even take a very different approach. They book James and Eelco to match them with other musicians, bands and even orchestras that are contracted independently.