Review Centre: Big Bands

"Dave contacted me to discuss the booking He was prompt, the set was out of this world and all our guest’s thoroughly enjoyed the evening as did we. His voice is amazing"

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"Amazing band great music! Really something different, welcome back at my pub any time."

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"Thank you so much for last night! You guys were phenomenal. Nothing but praise from everyone at the wedding. Can't wait to catch you out again at a gig. We will be keeping an eye out for any thing in our area! Thanks to you and the rest of the band! X"

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"‘Thank you for such a wonderful performance last night! Everyone was so impressed with you and wish you the very best for the year to come. I hope you enjoyed the evening too. I thought the concert went very well!' "

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"Wow! You were wonderful. We have had so many messages saying how excellent the evening was – so many people loved the band, and we can’t thank you enough. The music, as you know full well, is such an important part of the evening and we could not have hoped for anything better. "

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"We were both extremely impressed by the band and really enjoyed the music. Even more telling was the number of comments we had from guests as we walked around during the reception. The band is extremely talented and the music they played for us was perfect. They played two songs for us that weren't on their regular set list, and both were great. We were really pleased with their performance and professionalism. Anybody who likes well played gypsy, Dawg, or music that isn't cookie cutter will love these guys."

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" All Music Review Thom Jurek The title of this set is an apt one. While much of the music presented by the Rick Holland-Evan Dobbins Little Big Band, it hearkens back -- in terms of its sophistication, confidence and outright jazz literacy, not nostalgically -- to an era when progressive jazz, and big bands (this one numbering 10 pieces) flourished on the scene. This is one sophisticated outfit. Featuring the arrangement and compositional skills of Brent Wallarab, Jim Martin, Bill Dobbins and Kerry Strayer, this band struts out the tradition and make some joyous, complex, and elegant music that reflects its own unique identity. The résumés of all these players are impressive and reflected in the confidence of the date. It opens with "SUNY-Triangle," a Martin composition that works its artful sleight-of-hand over Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Triste." Martin uses the rhythmically complex samba and drapes some tough, knotty twists and turns over it. The intro is a beautiful and raucous wake-up call, while the head of the tune, with its staggered entrances and exits -- including some fine soloing by John Viavattine on tenor and John Nyerges on piano -- give this tune a unique identity. "Creature Comfort" is a beautiful mid-tempo ballad by Wallarab with edgeless yet multi-dimensional dissonances written into its harmonics. It swings beautifully and includes a fine, punchy solo by tenorman Glenn Cashman. Besides the originals, there are some fine readings here as well. There's Wallarab's arrangement of Duke Ellington's "Black and Tan Fantasy" that's a thoroughly modern exercise losing none of Ellington's humor or rhythmic complexity. Likewise, Gerry Mulligan's haunting, wee-hours, "Night Lights," is given expert treatment here by Strayer, and Dean Keller's baritone saxophone playing combines Mulligan's sense of lyric and Ben Webster's sense of time. In Time's Shadow reveals that innovation need not sacrifice accessibility or swing. It is convincing evidence that the big band form is alive, well and full of surprises."

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"We love rich, he’s a great performer and would highly recommend… Taken from Google, verified."

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"We have seen the Rat Pack musical twice on the big stage but this guy is THE BEST Sinatra we have seen! Brilliant!!"

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"Man, the commercial sounds awesome!!! Everyone thinks its Frank Sinatra. Amazing. You nailed it! "

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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!"

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"Funk’N’Soul performed at a wedding celebration held at Maisemore Gloucestershire on 28th August. The two hour set and DJ kept everyone on the dance floor, which was exactly what was wanted!! Awesome night!"

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"TRILBY Scott Yanow, author of ten books including The Jazz Singers, Trumpet Kings, Jazz On Film and Jazz On Record 1917-76 The Rick Holland-Evan Dobbins Little Big Band, which is based in Rochester, New York, was founded in 2005. Co-led by flugelhornist Holland and trombonist Dobbins, the 11 piece group has the sound of a big band despite having eight instead of the usual 11 or 12 horns. Its musicianship is top-notch, soloists are impeccable, and arrangements are both colorful and swinging. The 11 songs heard on Trilby consist of four standards, three originals by harmonica great Hendrik Meurkens, and a song apiece by Kerry Strayer, Hal Crook, Brent Wallarab and pianist Bill Dobbins. The father of Evan Dobbins, Bill Dobbins is the best known musician in the band, contributed six of the arrangements, and is a key soloist on five songs. But enough of the statistics. The Little Big Band swings hard and puts plenty of spirit into each performance. The opener, Benny Golson's “Stablemates,” has fine solos from Holland and the Phil Woods-inspired altoist Doug Stone, with the two battling it out near the tune's finish. Meurkens' “Slidin'” has an arrangement by Bill Dobbins that in its use of restrained tone colors is worthy of Thad Jones. A heated jam on “The Eternal Triangle” gives Holland and tenor-saxophonist Mike Pendowski an opportunity to jam, trade-off and interact with each other. Holland, Doug Stone (this time on clarinet) and trombonist Nick Finzer play lyrically on the melodic “Second Waltz.” David Baron's bass is featured prominently on “The Cottage,” a haunting tune particularly worthy of several listens. “Trilby,” a lengthy exploration of the chord structure of “Alone Together,” has some excellent hard bop flugelhorn from Holland, adventurous soprano from Stone and a memorable spot for Bill Dobbins' piano. Trombonist Dobbins, Pendowski and drummer Rich Thompson are not only well featured on “Fused” but at one point they play as a pianoless bassless trio. Rick Holland is heard at his best on the ballad “My Darling Darlene” and a jazz waltz version of “While We're Young.” David Baron is naturally in the spotlight during bassist Oscar Pettiford's “Tricotism” (along with Nick Finzer and Bill Dobbins) before Trilby closes with its most intense performance on “Rich's Call.” Throughout Trilby, the Rick Holland-Evan Dobbins Little Big Band plays on the level of most better-known ensembles, performing music that is inventive, full of life and fun. Their CD is highly recommended."

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"Rocktonight were a key part of our big day! Not only did they sing my entrance song (they prepared a song chosen by me, "At Last" by Etta James), but they played throughout the cocktail party and then livened up the party with a mega concert. Many were guests who told us it was the best cover band they had ever seen, especially at a wedding! Thank you so much, it was amazing, I highly recommend it!"

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"The Swing Empire have performed at several key events for us recently including the Cornwall Tourism Awards, our wedding open day and our New Years Eve celebration and they were amazing on each occasion! We had so many positive guest comments and feedback that we just had to book them again for this New Years. With a great variety of songs, interaction with the crowd and very smartly dressed what more could you want! Excellent musicians and certainly a band that we will be recommending for future events that The Headland organise and also for our clients weddings and corporate events."

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