Milan Swings

About Milan Swings

Milan Swings — An Exquisite Swing & Jive Ensemble, Based in Milan

For over a quarter of a century, Milan Swings has been a cornerstone of the Italian music scene, delivering impeccably refined performances that blend vintage swing with effortless sophistication. This curated ensemble has graced the most prestigious venues across Italy and beyond, including Blue Note Milan, Assago Forum, Alcatraz, Bloom, and Spirit de Milan, earning a reputation for unparalleled artistry and allure.

The band’s bespoke repertoire spans two original albums alongside a hand-selected collection of timeless Italian and American swing classics — That’s Amore, Mambo Italiano, Volare, Wanna Be Americano, Buonasera Signorina, Zooma Zooma, Via Con Me, and many more. Every performance is a masterful fusion of rhythm, charm, and exuberant elegance, often elevated by collaborations with accomplished Lindy hop and swing dancers who add an extra dimension of style and vibrancy.

Milan Swings has graced some of Italy’s most iconic private estates, particularly around Lake Como — Villa d’Este, Villa Erba, Villa Pizzo, the Mandarin Oriental (formerly CastaDiva) — as well as the Principe di Savoia in Milan, the Crown Plaza, Palazzo Ferrajoli and Palazzo Brancaccio in Rome, and Il Pelagio Castle in Florence, among many others. Each engagement is a testament to their unwavering commitment to delivering an exquisite, immersive experience.

Bespoke Line-Up Options

• Core Ensemble: Saxophone, piano, vocals, double bass, and drums — a refined foundation of swing.
• Expanded Formation: Additional trumpets, trombones, guitar, percussion, and female vocalists may be added, creating a full big band of up to 20 members. Personalised lecterns and a themed aesthetic for the evening are available upon request, ensuring every detail is impeccably curated for your exclusive celebration.

Set List

🇮🇹 ITALIAN SONGS

A testa in giù – Pino Daniele

Azzurro – Adriano Celentano

Banane e lamponi – Gianni Morandi

Bartali – Paolo Conte

Bella Ciao – Italian Traditional

Buonasera Signorina – Fred Buscaglione

Che bambola – Fred Buscaglione

Che cosa c’è – Gino Paoli

Che cossè l’amor – Vinicio Capossela

Chi tene 'o mare – Pino Daniele

Come prima più di prima – Domenico Modugno

Diamante – Zucchero

E allora mambo – Vinicio Capossela

E la chiamano estate – Bruno Martino

Eri piccola – Fred Buscaglione

Estate – Bruno Martino

Felicità – Al Bano e Romina Power (if included, not originally listed but often appears in this context)

Guarda che luna – Fred Buscaglione

Il cielo in una stanza – Gino Paoli

Il tuo bacio è come un rock – Adriano Celentano

In cerca di te – Natalino Otto

In cerca di te (solo me ne vo per la città) – Rabagliati

L’emozione non ha voce – Adriano Celentano

L’Italiano – Toto Cutugno

La vie en rose – (French origin, but often performed in Italian)

Love in Portofino – Fred Buscaglione

Malafemmena – A. De Curtis

Messico & nuvole – Enzo Jannacci

O sarracino – Renato Carosone

Onda su onda – Paolo Conte

Paolo Conte – Sotto le stelle del jazz

Sapore di sale – Gino Paoli

Senza fine – Gino Paoli

Sicily – Pino Daniele

Soli – Adriano Celentano

Spaghetti a Detroit – Fred Bongusto

Susanna – Adriano Celentano

Tu si na cosa grande – Domenico Modugno

Tu vo fa l’americano – Renato Carosone

Una carezza in un pugno – Adriano Celentano

Una lunga storia d’amore – Gino Paoli

Via con me – Paolo Conte

Volare (Nel blu dipinto di blu) – Domenico Modugno

🌍 INTERNATIONAL SONGS

A Foggy Day – George Gershwin

After You’ve Gone – T. Layton

Ain’t No Sunshine – Bill Withers

All of Me – Charlie Parker

Angelina/Zooma Zooma – Louis Prima

As – Stevie Wonder

As Time Goes By – Herman Hupfeld

Autumn Leaves – George Prevert

Basin Street Blues – S. Williams

Besame Mucho – Julio Iglesias

Beker Street – Gerry Rafferty

Black Orpheus – Luiz Bonfá

Blue Bossa – Kenny Dorham

Blue Moon – Frank Sinatra

Body and Soul – John Coltrane

Bublè & Pausini – Quando Quando Quando

Can’t Take My Eyes Off You – B. Crewe

Change the World – Eric Clapton

Cheek to Cheek – Irving Berlin

Close to You – Burt Bacharach

Corcovado – Antonio Carlos Jobim

Crazy Little Thing Called Love – Queen

Desafinado – Antonio Carlos Jobim

Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans – Louis Armstrong

Don’t Worry Be Happy – Bobby McFerrin

Falling in Love with You – Elvis Presley

Fly Me to the Moon – Frank Sinatra

Georgia on My Mind – Ray Charles

Georgy Porgy – Toto

Give Me the Night – George Benson

Hallelujah I Just Love Her So – Ray Charles

Harlem Nocturne – Duke Ellington

Here, There and Everywhere – The Beatles

Hey Marie – Louis Prima

Home – Michael Bublé

How High the Moon – Chet Baker

How Insensitive – Antonio Carlos Jobim

I Believe I Can Fly – Space Jam Soundtrack

I Get a Kick Out of You – Frank Sinatra

I Wanna Be Like You – Louis Prima

I’ve Got You Under My Skin – Frank Sinatra

It Had to Be You – Harry Connick Jr.

It’s Now or Never – Elvis Presley

Just a Gigolo – Louis Prima

Just the Two of Us – Will Smith

Just the Way You Are – Billy Joel

L.O.V.E. – Nat King Cole

La Belle Dame Sans Regret – Sting

Lately – Stevie Wonder

Lover Man – Charlie Parker

Mambo Italiano – Dean Martin

Mas Que Nada – Sérgio Mendes

Minnie the Moocher – Cab Calloway

Misty – Erroll Garner

Moondance – Michael Bublé

More – Riz Ortolani

My Funny Valentine – Charlie Parker

My Girl – The Temptations

My Way – Frank Sinatra

Night and Day – Frank Sinatra

O Barquinho – João Gilberto

On Broadway – George Benson

One Note Samba – Antonio Carlos Jobim

Out of Nowhere – Stan Getz

Over the Rainbow – Kenny G

Overjoyed – Stevie Wonder

Quando Quando Quando – Tony Renis (kept original and Bublè version)

Quizás Quizás Quizás – Nat King Cole

Satin Doll – Duke Ellington

She – Elvis Costello

Shake Your Tail Feather – Ray Charles

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes – Glenn Miller

Sophisticated Lady – Duke Ellington

Star Dust – Charlie Chaplin

Stella by Starlight – Miles Davis

Stranger in the Night – Frank Sinatra

Street Life – The Crusaders

Summertime – George Gershwin

Sunny – Marvin Gaye

Sway – Michael Bublé

Take the “A” Train – Duke Ellington

Tenderly – Bill Evans

That’s Amore – Dean Martin

That’s What Friends Are For – Burt Bacharach

The Days of Wine and Roses – Henry Mancini

The Girl from Ipanema – Antonio Carlos Jobim

The Godfather – Nino Rota

The Shadows of Your Smile – Tony Bennett

The Summer Wind – Frank Sinatra

The Way You Look Tonight – Frank Sinatra

Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran

This Is What You Are – Mario Biondi

This Masquerade – George Benson

Unchained Melody – The Platters

Unforgettable – Nat King Cole

Wanna Be Americano – Lou Bega

Wave – Antonio Carlos Jobim

What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong

When I Fall in Love – Nat King Cole

You Are the Sunshine of My Life – Stevie Wonder

You Don’t Know What Love Is – George Benson

You Make Me Feel So Young – Frank Sinatra

You Never Can Tell – Chuck Berry

You’ve Got a Friend – James Taylor

FAQ

What are your normal set lengths?

- A total of 2-3 hours of live music.

Do you provide your own sound & lighting equipment? What is it or what's included in the price?

- Yes

Do you provide a laptop playlist / DJ service in between and after your live sets?

- Yes

What time do you normally arrive at the venue to set up?

- 3 hours before start time

How long does it take for you to set up, sound check etc?

- 1 to 2 hours depending on band size

Can you learn song requests (e.g. a first dance)?

- Yes

How much space do you need for your performance area?

- 3m x 4m

Do you have Public Liability Insurance and PAT-tested equipment?

- Yes

Are you comfortable performing outdoors or in unusual settings (e.g. barns, beaches)?

- Yes