Review Centre: Swing Bands

"They played with great flair and panache all evening adding a real touch of spice to the proceedings!"

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"We just wanted to get in touch again to thank you guys for the wonderful show you put on for our wedding on Saturday night! Everyone had such a great time, and absolutely loved your performance. You were a real highlight and we can't thank you enough"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Thank you so much for your music at my party - everyone said they loved it and really added to the party atmosphere - will definitely book you again for other events, and I know some of my friends and family want to book you too !"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Thank you for singing a our wedding at Raven Hall you were fantastic. Sarah & Gary xx (10 / 10) Sarah Miller"

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"Beautiful voice that will take you on a best of Jazz tour. "

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"She was very versatile, and everyone enjoyed her presentation. She has a beautiful voice, and we could relax into it ."

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"Dr Jazz were fantastic. We LOVED having you all to play for us on Saturday. It was so wonderful having you playing as we arrived in the car after the ceremony. You were brilliant and really made the reception go with a swing. Thank you so much."

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"I just wanted to write to thank you guys for doing such an incredible job at our event last Saturday; you really blew people away! The fact that people were having such a good time, and up dancing throughout the evening was unusual, and evidence of people really having a good time! I heard *many* comments about how amazing you were, and the Manor as well were very impressed and keen to share your information with others booking events with them. So, yay, well done, and THANK YOU!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Mellowtone Jazz played at my 60th birthday Sunday lunch at Poets House hotel in Ely yesterday . I can not recommend them highly enough. They were professional and helpful in all my dealings with them . They were flexible , accommodating , and most importantly - their music was great ! Our guests thoroughly enjoyed the entertainment and it really made the party . Thankyou , Chris and co , you made all the difference to our event ! (10 / 10) "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"WOW. ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. If you are considering hiring Good Time SoulF for your wedding or event, you should book them immediately! I am so incredibly impressed with their talents, professionalism, communication, and overall performance. They were such a highlight of my wedding day and I couldn’t be more grateful that they were able to come and perform for us. They were so flexible with their playlists as well and let me customize the songs that I wanted to hear from their playlists as well as add a few more songs that they were able to learn for the wedding. I am overjoyed with their performance and the only thing I wish I would have done differently is to have asked them to stay longer. Truly amazing, kind, talented, and wonderful performers. I enjoyed every second as did my guests. THANK YOU!!! XXXX"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Cheryl was an absolute joy to work with. I was looking for someone to surprise my husband for his birthday party and she was everything I was hoping for. She really added that extra special element while being very unobtrusive at the same time. I would recommend her highly."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"With Mr. Lilienthal, we have already had a terrific musician for the most diverse events. Whether ball, company party or summer party outdoors. Wide range of music, super pleasant and professional cooperation. Our guests were thrilled and we are already looking forward to the next time!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"I wanted a swing/jazz band for my wedding, and oh boy, did they deliver! They were swinging, and lively; their repertoire was quite expansive. They reached out to ask if I had any specific songs and then added additional pieces that suited the style I wanted. We contracted them for both the ceremony and the reception, we had a 3 piece band for the ceremony (piano, bass, and sax) They showed up early and set up with no extra help needed, played some gentle jazz music until the ceremony began, and even added in a drummer for no extra charge. I flip-flopped on the song I wanted to walk down the aisle to until almost the very last moment, and they were incredibly understanding and flexible. For the ceremony, we requested a 7 piece band so it could be boisterous and fun. There was almost no time that the dance floor was empty from the moment they began playing, even though the music they played was a sort of old-school jazz that few people know how to properly dance to. They played so well and brought such an element of joy and fun, that all our guests felt comfortable enough to dance all night. We learned how to swing dance for our first dance (Louis Armstrong, 'Bout Time), and the band played it to perfection (even if we didn't dance it perfectly LOL). This moment is one I will treasure forever, it was exactly as I had wanted it to be. For the rest of the night, they played off a setlist of a few songs I gave them and filled in the rest with their own recommendations. The singer has the most beautiful voice, all the band members play perfectly, I felt like I was in a 1920s jazz bar which was exactly what I had wanted. We had guests approach us all throughout the night, and even now to ask who the band was and to congratulate us on such a fun event. If you want a band that can swing, rock, and any other musical verb you like, this is the band you want. They were so communicative, helpful, and perfectly able to understand my vision. To the Orignal Moonlighters: thank you for making my wedding as special as it was."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Our contact at Agriturismo La Lucciolaia told us of Tea For Three as well as a few other bands. Once we listened to their music, we did not even listen to the others. They has a great combination of old and newer songs and a unique sound. We contacted Stefano and he could not have been more helpful. We had to reschedule our wedding 4 times over two years due to COVID and he was flexible in making the changes. Our wedding party was a mix of older and younger folks and so we were concerned that TF3’s style might not make everyone happy. We shouldn’t have worried…everyone loved the music. Our day went well and they were a big part of the success. Grazie Mille TF3 !"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

" I am proud that the Rick Holland - Evan Dobbins Little Big Band calls Tala Vera cantina home once a month. Rick is a consummate professional as well as a top tier musician. His Band comprises the best players Rochester has to offer. Such talent coupled with an amazing book of swing and traditional jazz, presents a special evening of music every time they play at Tala Vera. Bernard Matthews, Owner of Tala Vera, Rochester, NY I have had the pleasure to do some arranging and writing for Rick's groups and I have to say that his groups are always chocked full of the best musicians around. It's a pleasure to have music played with precision and integrity - no matter what the style or genre. I would highly recommend any or Rick's groups for a jazz or commercial setting. Jim Martin, Grand Rapids, MI We had the pleasure of having the USO-10 piece play at our wedding in May 2017. From the minute we met Rick Holland and heard the band play we knew they were the band for us. It was a pleasure to work with Rick, who was so professional and helpful in many ways especially song choices from everything to cocktail music, our entrance song, first dance, parent dances to our exit song. The dance floor was never empty. We are thrilled with the USO and look forward to hearing them again in the near future!! Thank you for making our wedding so special! Maureen and Mark Deckman Sometimes it all just falls into place. The setting, the situation, the scene, the tone -- everything is going your way. That describes last night for me. And at the heart of this mid-week Xanadu was the Rick Holland Uptown Orchestra, a modest, brass-centric outfit led by the trumpet-blowing Holland that swung with equal parts effervescence and laid-back cool at Lovin Cup. And come to find out, five of his Hollands regular guys were sidelined, and the holes on the bandstand were plugged with subs --- hired music muscle like Po’ Boy Erik Jacobs on the slide trombone. By the time the Orchestra heaped on a helping of Count Basie, there was nowhere else I wanted to be. I dragged my mom out in the cold for this show and she was thrilled when they stomped on the Savoy. Holland led the affair with a relaxed air, coaxing more than conducting under his porkpie lid. He went around the bandstand numerous times so every cat there got his fair shake, including pianist extraordinaire Bill Dobbins. This is one sweet band, yes, yes. Frank De Blase, Roch City News With all the hype going to Wynton Marsalis, you might not guess that there are other, lesser-known, straight-ahead trumpet players out there who are consistently ripping the hide off the ball. This, Rick Holland's auspicious debut, is an impressive effort. The trumpeter leads his quartet, backed by a solid Michigan-based rhythm section: pianist Terry Lower, bassist Ed Fedewwa, and drummer Larry Ochiltree, through a fiery trail of originals and standards, interspersed with some fine balladry. Holland's sensitive ear translates to some tight arrangements and a well-organized program. On flugelhorn, he boasts a rich, full tone that purrs with warmth. On the faster tunes, he steams. This is the kind of jazz that feels just right on a wintry day, with the fireplace in full throttle, and the feet resting on a cushion: it hits the spot perfectly, drenched with emotional power and skillful fortitude. Steve Loewy, All Music Guide You get the feeling from Holland’s recordings, that Holland and his compatriots are not only talented musicians, but fully formed human beings with wit, style and elegance---folks whom you would enjoy sharing a fine dinner and stimulating conversation. Bill Barton, Green Mountain Jazz Messenger "Rick brought his quartet and the little big band to our wedding and reception. He was wonderful to work with, being both receptive to our requests and knowing where to fill in the gaps with his expertise. Not to mention I could call him anytime, and he worked around our schedule. They played a tasteful mix of songs great for just listening to and a few that got everyone up on the dance floor. In the end, everyone was raving about how great the band was. We couldn't be happier!" P.S. Lindsey was amazing, the two comments I heard most were "Wow, they are great!" and "That girl can sing!" Sam and Ellie Carrell I hired Rick Holland Productions for my wedding and I thank my lucky stars I did. They were just an absolute solid band. I live in Toronto so the 10 piece band crossed the border for my wedding - our wedding coordinator said she'd never heard a band that good over her decade long career. I like to think I'm a genius for finding them ?? Kian K., Toronto, ON, CA From the bride: "The music was wonderful! We could not have asked for a better band. Our guests were really impressed; the Uptown Society Orchestra really made our reception special.” From the groom: "What a professional group. Their exceptional musicianship brought a real element of class to the party. There is nothing like the sound of a live band, and this group made our reception better than we could have hoped for.” From the father of the bride: (Dennis Nowicki): "The band was fantastic -- they really exceeded our expectations." Anders Dahlberg and Stacy Nowicki, Wedding at the Chicago Art Museum The Uptown Society Orchestra may have had six members, but it sounded as if it had twice as many as members blew triumphantly throughout New Years' eve night. (Front page Kalamazoo Gazette, regarding the New Years Eve Festival 2004, Kalamazoo, Michigan) Bill Wood, Arts and Entertainment critic, Kalamazoo Gazette Amazing! Rick Holland Productions worked seamlessly with our wedding, where we had three separate "performances" that were adpated to by Rick's use of different members of the Little Big Band. We had a cocktail reception where a trio played, then a brass quartet accompanied our Wedding ceremony. After our guests were transported by horse-drawn carriage to a lake side reception site, the Little Little Big Band got things started and the full Little Big Band played the night away to the extreme pleasure of our entire party. They even let Joe Robinson jam with them in the chill of the autumn, fire-lit evening! Thank You so much Rick! Matthew Cooper, Bradford, PA Rick brought his quartet and the little big band to our wedding and reception. He was wonderful to work with, being both receptive to our requests and knowing where to fill in the gaps with his expertise. Not to mention I could call him anytime, and he worked around our schedule. They played a tasteful mix of songs great for just listening to and a few that got everyone up on the dance floor. In the end, everyone was raving about how great the band was. Lindsey Holland was amazing, the two comments I heard most were "Wow, they are great!" and "That girl can sing!"We couldn't be happier! Sam and Ellie Carrell When we heard the Uptown Society perform at a New Year's Eve concert we knew that we wanted them to play at our wedding. They had the perfect blend of jazz, swing and romantic ballads. They are excellent musicians and we were thrilled to find that they were available for our wedding. Our guests were thrilled that we hired them; we received so many compliments. Uptown Society provided a wonderful 'soundtrack' for our storybook wedding. Eric and Kim von Oeyen, Battle Creek, MI Rick Holland and his band played our wedding on August 28, 2010. Rick could not have been more accommodating to my husband and my wants and needs for music at the wedding. We communicated through email, over the phone, and met with each other once to go over the details. Rick was very thorough and always set our minds at ease. During our ceremony, his quartet played us up the aisle with a romantic song and down the aisle with ''Fireworks'' which set the mood for the festive evening to begin. The cocktail hour began immediately following the ceremony and Rick''s band did not miss a beat....the little big band entertained guests while they mingled and got a bite to eat. When the wedding party was ready to be announced, Rick took the microphone as we were all introduced. After the speeches were out of the way, Rick and the band let loose! With a full band and two singers, a male and a female, we partied for the next four hours! The guests were dancing, singing, and truly having a great time as did we! The band definitely made the night! The songs were exactly what we requested and the sound quality was superb. I would gladly book Rick and his band for another occasion as well as recommend them. Thanks again Rick! Erin and Mike Victor, New York"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review: