Review Centre: Swing Bands

"On Sunday 24th February the ‘David Hitchen Sextet’ sounded like a band that had played together for years. The superbly presented performance had everything…a well planned repertoire, cleverly arranged charts and playing of the highest level. The fact that the six musicians met to perform together for the very first time only two hours before the gig, was quite beyond belief and had David not mentioned it during his announcements no-one would have known. One of the best small band gigs at Wigan Jazz Club for a long time ! “ Dr Ian Darrington MBE / Director & Co-founder of Wigan International Jazz Festival & Jazz Club."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Special thanks go to Santa Sax for playing his heart out yesterday and keeping everyone entertained with his beautiful music and raising over £75 for Isaac’s Food Bank ♥️ We would 100% recommend this amazing musician to anyone booking an event, not only is he an amazing saxophone player, but he is the kindest, sweetest man ? Isaac has a special affinity for the tones of the sax and it filled all our hearts with happiness to have him at the event Note: Santa Sax is my alter-ego for gigs in December! This review was given as a social media comment so didn't come with a rating."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Nice promo ,your playing is amazing.I was in you performance at my friend's wedding recently and definitely will book you !Cool man!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Entertainment, good music and lots of sympathy. I recommend it for a private party."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Sono stati fantastici e hanno contribuito a rendere l evento magico. Il pubblico si è totalmente innamorato di loro . Li contatterò altre volte certamente."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"My partner Jessica Brennan recently had her 70th Birthday Party at the Castello di Septe in Mozzagrogna, and had Good Time Soul Foundation for the music. The band were outstanding and everybody remarked how good they were. Some of the guests were in a nine piece band themselves and could appreciate the quality of their performance. Jessica gave a list of songs that she wanted them to play and they didn’t let her down from Jazz to Soul and Dance everybody had a great time."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Just wanted to say thank you again for playing at our party last weekend. We had an absolutely fantastic time - everyone said how much they enjoyed your music (it definitely helped to make the evening a special one). (10 / 10) "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"You might expect an album with edgy, teal-lit cover art and the title of The Isolation Blues, by the Mike Goudreau Band, to be either dark and brooding or a real barroom stomper, showcasing the loudest guitar you’ve heard since Jimi Hendrix’s. Instead, from the first notes, you’ll find it’s a peppy ensemble extravaganza with horns galore. More’s the better, too – the Winter Solstice is coming up, and we need an eye-opening blast of sunshine in the middle of it. Smooth, jazzy-influenced, and boasting crystal-clear vocals, it’s a must-play on New Year’s Eve. Born in 1965 in Newport, Vermont, into a musical family with an English mother and a French-Canadian father, Mike Goudreau picked up his first guitar at age 14 and hasn’t stopped playing since. His early influences included the Beatles, Chuck Berry, Rolling Stones, Johnny Cash, Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra, and later, Albert King, Freddie King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Powder Blues and Downchild – to name a few. Such diverse interests help to explain why Mike is comfortable in so many musical genres, especially jazz and blues. Since 2007, Mike’s songs have been heard on hundreds of network TV shows and films, such as the TV movie The Happiest Season (Hulu), Dynasty (CBS), the Universal Pictures film Dark Waters, the Hollywood film The Banker, starring Samuel Jackson (2020), The Neighborhood (CBS), NCIS Los Angeles (CBS), and Chicago PD (NBC), among several others. Joining Mr. Goudreau (vocals, guitars, bass and hand claps) are Jean-Francois Begin (think Menachem Begin, not “begin”) on drums and percussion, Dany Roy on tenor sax and trumpet, Ira Friedman on organ and piano, and Pascal Veilette on harmonica. You know all the shows and films mentioned earlier? Together, they spell diamond-level QUALITY. That’s what’s been poured into each of the fourteen original tracks on this CD. Every note, every musical phrase, glimmers like the light off one of that gem’s many facets. This is real-deal blues, whether in swing/jump form (as on the opener “Let’s Go Down to the River”), the angsty, harmonica-infused title track, the guitar and piano boogie known as “The Mooch,” or the laid-back instrumental “Sea Breeze Blues.” Any band can crank out an album in their garage or basement and deem it good enough, but not Goudreau and his posse. They care about their offerings like Michelangelo cared about David, or Da Vinci the Mona Lisa. That’s because they’re not just musicians. Not just craftsmen. They’re artists, and don’t you forget it. Got The Isolation Blues? Here’s the cure, or at least the vaccine! "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Big surprise at Rustic Charm! We wandered in to find GREAT jazz on a Sunday. Lovely and lively tunes made us smile. Can’t miss them again."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"excellent trio so powerful i hope to come again to Gr. "

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"Good afternoon Martin, We hope your week is going great! We are writing to you in order to thank you for your excellent work and help on Saturday at Deirdre & Donal´s wedding. It is a real a pleasure to work with professional´s such as you. Looking forward to working with you soon. Thank you & best regards, Amaia Tucco Weddings and Events"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"What a fantastic show! A toe-tapping, brilliant evening of jazz, one of the highlights of our festival. Please come back and play for us again."

Reply by Sabra Swing
Many thanks Alastair and thanks for hosting us at the festival.

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Dave was fantastic. Great voice charming person and perfect song selection. The crowd needed warming up and Dave went to them rather than wait for them - great technique. Would definitely book Dave again and recommend him to all. Leanne"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"New Orleans is a state-of-mind. Every year around this time of year, Mardi Gras is an explosion of joyousness. You don't have to travel down to Louisiana to feel it. Its spirit resides in Mercer County in a little town called Ewing, where Joe Grillo leads The Gumbo Gumbas on a Cajun holiday all year round. The jump-blues, zydeco, rocl'n'roll, jazz, folk strains and oh such soul are on full display wherever they play. Now you can even share that feeling, that zest for life, that passionate embodiment of the groove, in your own home. Zydeland has to be the feel-good album of the year so far. Written, arranged, produced, sung and honked on his tenor sax, Grillo imbues Zydeland with a Bourbon Street beat. He's an honorary French Quarter denizen of the night. Of course, there's always time to invoke a little Tom Waits on highlight "Can't Go Back to New Orleans" The colors mix and mingle with tuba, banjo, guitar, violin, viola, cello, trombone, accordion, piano, bass, clarinet, soprano sax, trumpet and that penetration percolation percussion. Excuse me, I got to get on up and do the boogaloo. You just can't set still for this thing."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"If you’re looking for a memorable addition to your private party, this saxophonist is a must. Their soulful melodies and virtuosic performance set a sophisticated tone, elevating the atmosphere. From smooth jazz to lively tunes, their talent ensures an unforgettable experience that will leave your guests raving. Highly recommended!"

Reply by Saxophone,Wedding sax
I really appreciate for your feed back and I do hope to enjoy you with my music vibes again!

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review: