The question is not "which line-up is best" but "which line-up fits this event". A quintet at an intimate gallery opening is the same mistake as a duo at a corporate party for two hundred — it just shows up in the opposite direction.
Comparison in one table
Prices are for a standard evening in Prague — three 45-minute sets including our own PA and transport within Prague. Full breakdown in the price list.
Duo: vocals and piano
The smallest working line-up. The piano carries harmony and rhythm, the voice the melody. The sound is intimate and chamber-like.
- Suits: dinner, receptions, gallery openings, intimate weddings, hotel lobbies.
- Strength: the smallest acoustic and physical footprint — 3 × 2.5 m.
- Limit: no bottom end. In a larger room it sounds thin.
- Website: jazzduo.cz
Trio: + double bass
The most frequently booked line-up. The double bass adds a bass line and rhythmic foundation — the music gains fullness without gaining volume. That is the key point: a trio sounds fuller than a duo but is not louder.
- Suits: corporate evenings, hotel evenings, weddings, receptions up to 100 guests.
- Strength: the best ratio of sound to space required.
- Limit: without drums the dance floor usually stays empty.
- Who plays: David Kleňha (vocals), Jaroslav Bárta (piano), Jan Greifoner (double bass).
When to go smaller
In an acoustically hard space — a gallery, a historic hall, plenty of glass and concrete — choose one size down from what the guest count suggests. The room multiplies the sound on its own and a larger band blurs into mush.
Ask for adviceQuartet: + drums
Drums are the dividing line between listening music and dance music. They add drive and hold tempo. They also raise the volume and the space requirement.
- Suits: corporate parties with dancing, balls, anniversaries, wedding evenings.
- Strength: fills the dance floor.
- Limit: not for an ordinary restaurant — acoustically they overpower the room.
- Who plays: the trio plus Branko Križek (drums). Website: jazzquartet.cz
Quintet: + horn section
Saxophone, clarinet, trumpet on request. Horns bring melodic solos and a colour the piano cannot replace. It is the most representative option.
- Suits: large corporate parties, gala evenings, company anniversaries, large weddings.
- Strength: sonic and visual weight.
- Limit: above 100 guests you need the organiser's sound engineer — our own PA covers 80 to 100 people.
- Website: jazzquintet.cz
A decision path
- Will there be dancing? Yes → quartet minimum. No → duo or trio.
- How many guests? Up to 80 our own PA is enough. Above 100 you need an engineer.
- What are the acoustics? Hard space → smaller line-up.
- How much room is there? Duo 3 × 2.5 m, trio 3.5 × 3 m, quartet and quintet 4 × 3 m.
- What impression should the event make? A gala evening carries a quintet; an intimate reception does not.
A detailed table by guest count is in how many musicians per guests, and technical requirements in what the band needs on site.
The repertoire is the same
Whichever line-up you choose, it plays from the same repertoire of over 100 songs — jazz and swing standards, bossa nova, latin and modern songs in jazz arrangements. The arrangement changes, not the material. And it is always played without backing tracks.
About the author
David Kleňha is a jazz singer and bandleader based in Prague, performing across the Czech Republic. He leads line-ups from duo to quintet — jazzduo.cz, jazztrio.cz, jazzquartet.cz and jazzquintet.cz — and has played more than 320 events since 2015: corporate evenings, receptions, gallery openings, hotel and restaurant nights, weddings and festivals. More on his personal site davidklenha.cz.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a duo and a trio?
A trio adds a double bass, giving the music a bass line and rhythmic foundation. It sounds fuller than a duo but is not louder, which makes it suitable even where the music should not dominate.
When do I need a quartet instead of a trio?
As soon as there will be dancing. Drums hold the tempo and give the music the drive without which the floor usually stays empty.
What does a quintet add over a quartet?
A horn section — saxophone, clarinet or trumpet on request. It brings melodic solos and colour, and carries representative sonic and visual weight.
How much space does each line-up need?
Duo 3 × 2.5 metres, trio 3.5 × 3 metres, quartet and quintet 4 × 3 metres, on a level, clean and dry surface.
Does the repertoire differ by line-up?
No. All line-ups play from the same repertoire of over 100 songs; only the arrangement changes. It is always performed live without backing tracks.