Review Centre: Jazz Bands

"I am delighted to recommend Vincent Cassotta of Enfield CT in pursuit of his grant application for the Louis Armstrong Tribute with a Jazz Quartet performing at the Eli Whitney Elementary School. My previous role as the PK-12 Music Coordinator for the Enfield Public School District has brought me in direct contact with the professional, innovative, creative, and artistic musician and retired teacher Mr. Vincent Cassotta. I have witnessed first-hand the impact and quality of his quality music instruction provided for his thirty-nine years of teaching tenure in our community. To have the opportunity to bring the genre of American Jazz Music as a tribute to the legend of Louis Armstrong with quality professional musicians under Mr. Cassotta’s organization is a blessing to the young minds and ears of our elementary students, especially at a time when music education in Enfield offers less opportunities. This past Spring I had the opportunity to guest speak at Mr. Cassotta’s retirement party celebrating his many years of service in music education. In that speech I spoke about multiple areas beyond the collegial and professional relationship Mr. Cassotta, and I achieved since 1999. These in my opinion provide strong evidence for the Enfield Cultural Council to support this mission of this application fiscally. One of the points shared was that Mr. Cassotta balanced his career of music education and professional trumpet performing with incredible success throughout his career. Aside from the technical, logistical and time management responsibilities from such an endeavor, he achieved this success with never letting go of the care demonstrated to his students, family members, school building staff, and his music professional colleagues. The fact that he desires to continue to expand the music opportunities to students in Enfield now in his retirement resting years is evidence of his dedication to this art form and willingness to always educate. Furthermore Mr. Cassotta’s wealth of experience professionally as a performing musician and student of the trumpet is stellar. In his education Mr. Cassotta studied trumpet with Rolf Smedvig of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Empire Brass Quintet, Jimm Maxwell a NYC Studio Musician, Roger Murtha of the Hartford Symphony and Hartt School of Music, and Dan Patrylak of the Eastman Brass Quintet and UCONN. To continue, Mr. Cassotta was a freelance performer with Frank Sinatra, Manhattan Transfer, Ella Fitzgerald, Bobby Vinton, Bob Hope, The Four Tops, Phil Woods, The Temptations, Sammy Davis Jr., Andy Williams, Franki Valli and the Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. Including numerous local and state pit orchestra’s and local well know jazz bands. He has also published works as a composer and arranger with KJOS music as well as multiple professional recordings. I strongly urge you to consider Mr. Cassotta’s application for this grant. Your support will help impact music education in Enfield and continue to make a meaningful impact on the lives of its students. Thank you for considering this recommendation. Sincerely, Mark F. Reppucci Jazz, Orchestra, Music Technology and Piano Teacher Enfield High School Write your tex"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Review received on 7/4/2021 Amazing band - made our wedding This band is so amazing. They are all the nicest of people and amazingly talented musicians and vocalists. They performed at our wedding, including acoustic music while we walked down the aisle and during the cocktail hour and then they rock and rolled for dinner. They gave us a huge set list that we could choose from which they played and also added to. Everyone enjoyed them so much. People were dancing all night. They really made our wedding a special event. This is not an ordinary wedding band. This is a group of great musicians that played at our wedding. We can’t thank them enough. Rick and Sue Rating: "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Wow, awesome! Would 100% recommend Darren, great song list, great voice, lovely guy, couldn't do enough for us, absolutely everyone enjoyed Darren's songs and his personality, he made a fantastic party just perfect! (10 / 10) Liz Newett"

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"Dear Babis, August 18th I had you at my wedding and you were our best choice!!! Be well and thank you for the perfect cooperation we had!!! See you again!!!!"

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"Parisienne Café Ambiance! As we hosted a concert in January 2023, with a special tribute to the famous 1950s French singer Edith Piaf, we wanted to recreate a unique 1950s Parisian café atmosphere in the hall and we called upon Euro Café Duo to animate this one-time café. Our audience was delighted by their music, and we spent a wonderful evening to which they greatly contributed. We thank them for both their talent and professionalism and wish them every success. "

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"Thanks to Gerard for making this moment so poetic thanks to his violin and his musicality. It was a magical moment! Thanks to Gerard for being able to adapt so well to my request."

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"Can only find positives to say about the jazz band - beautiful music and very easy to work with. All the guests said how good they were. We're so pleased we booked them! "

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" Name: Phill from Camberley Organisation: Rating: 10/10 Review: These guys were playing at the Login Lounge in Camberely and I came in by chance. They have a great vibe and are extremely polished with a wide repertoire. I sacked off my shopping and stayed as I liked them so much ! 10/10. Thank you guys 👍 "

Reply by Green Street Jazz Trio
Hi Phil, Thanks so much for your kind words. We all had a good time at Login Lounge. Best wishes, Peter D.

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"After a lot of research I came across Fan Club Jazz Band and was very pleased to find they were also local to us. We booked them for our wedding gave them some examples of the type of instrumental music we wanted and a bit of a brief and they nailed it completely! It was such an incredible day, and they created the perfect vibe and atmosphere which is exactly what we wanted. I would definitely use them again and do plan to in the future. Thanks so much guys!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Just right “Accompaniment” is the right word—and that’s how it was experienced. Not insignificant, not dominant, just right. You were there, and it sounded perfect. You certainly contributed to the atmosphere. The booking process, our contact, and the performance—all was to our satisfaction. "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Brewhouse Jazz were absolutely fantastic! They created the perfect atmosphere and were so great to deal with. I cannot recommend them enough!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Charlie Painter and his band performed exactly as my wife and I anticipated. They showed up on time and had some guests on the dance floor. Everyone had a good time. The music was at a good volume, no shouting to communicate with guests. I like to listen to Charlie when he plays at public venues. Jim"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Frank De Blase, Roch City News 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 "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We booked StraightFire for our work Christmas party. I had seen the smaller line-up of the band but booked the full 8-piece with the brass section and they blew us away. Incredible - recommended without reservation."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Hello Mr. Lilienthal, To take it straight away: Everyone was totally thrilled. Everything was really to the best satisfaction. The way you played, volume, choice of music - everything accompanied at the right time, always atmospherically adapted to the situation and always the "right tone", whether at the standing reception, at dinner, in the course of the evening. Simply perfect. The nice possibility that the audience could wish for titles was really well received. After all the feedback and our own feelings, it was really a great decision that we entrusted you with the musical framing of the evening. We would like to thank you very much for that."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review: