Review Centre: Crooners

"Very professional. Sounded just like Sinatra, and with his charisma too! What an absolute treat! Can’t wait for the next time. Sensational!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Just enjoyed a wonderful evenings entertainment listening (and joining in with) Peter at The Lansdowne Hotel, Eastbourne. What a very talented artist Peter is. He not only has a fantastic voice he has a personality to match and has the audience in the palm of his hand, everyone joining in and thoroughly enjoying songs we all knew. Oh if only we had some of the energy Peter has in spades! Thank you Peter, you're a star."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Sarah will certainly make any event, formal or informal, large or small, one to remember. I have seen her perform at many local events over the years, be it church concerts, theatre venues, pub functions or weddings and funerals. Whether you are looking for a talented singer who can entertain and wow an audience, or a sensitive professional who will add a touch of magic to a more formal occasion. Sarah fits the bill. I would highly recommend Sarah and am convinced that you will be over the moon with her friendly service and exceptional performance."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"I have seen Peter Stanford sing and perform several times. He always gives a brilliant show and encourages audience participation. Peter is very professional and you can tell he's been on the West End. I'd highly recommend."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"10/09/2008 If you're looking for a romantic, yet fun and friendly Italian restaurant, then Il Forno is the place to go. This place gets very busy, especially on the weekends, so be prepared to wait. I'm not really big on ordering pasta from a restaurant, but I decided to go with that here. It was very garlicky and flavorful, but honestly, I am never really blown away by any pasta, since I can make some pretty good pasta at home. Apparently, this place is famous for their wood-fired pizza, and I really wish I would have tried that. I'd definitely like to go back someday to try it. While I was here, there was a guy walking around playing the accordion. This definitely added to the romantic and authentic atmosphere. I don't know why, but I always feel awkward around accordion guys--maybe it's some inner childhood phobia. I think I would be safe now though, since I heard they now have a harp player. If you're Celiac, you can request gluten-free pasta. Also, I think this is a place you might want to get dressed up a little for--it's kind of fancy. "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"I just wanted to thank you on behalf of the Mayor’s Charities for giving everyone such an enjoyable evening at our event last week. We have had some really positive comments from some very happy guests. "

Reply by The British Bublé
Thank you so much for your kind words! It was a real pleasure to perform for the Mayor’s Charities event and to see everyone enjoying the evening. I’m thrilled the guests had such positive feedback — it means a lot. If you’re planning a charity gala, corporate dinner, or community event in London or anywhere in the UK, I’d be delighted to bring live swing, jazz, and classic hits to create the perfect atmosphere for your guests.

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Takk Charles for at du reiste ned til Sandefjord på lørdag for å synge i min overraskende 50-årsdag. Jeg synes du er fantastisk, og det samme gjorde alle som deltok på festen. Jeg har fått tekstmeldinger som spør om deg og massevis av meldinger som sier hvor enestående du er. Jeg hadde en fantastisk tid, og du sang alle favorittsangene mine. Takk for at du gjorde bursdagen min så fantastisk."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Thanks for learning the first dance song Luke, we really enjoyed the night and the guests did too"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We worked with Jazz Centrale for two New Year's receptions for our company. Excellent service, clear communication, and top-notch musicians. We definitely recommend Jazz Centrale!"

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:

"Thank you Darren for a great evening we hope to see you again soon Had great feedback from customers brilliant voice. Thank you (10 / 10) Diane ( Anchor In Tideswell ) "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"He was the perfect touch of class for our event!!! Professional, talented, friendly! Would definitely work with him again!!!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Luke was extremely good, all my guests enjoyed his performance he pitched it just right. Would definitely recommend Luke to anyone."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Absolutely Loves Roksteady! My wife and I had the pleasure to see Roksteady perform live on 2 different Carnival Cruises and he never disappoints. He's very charismatic, talented, and interacts with the audience perfectly. Much Love Roksteady. Hope to see you again soon. Love Charles and Tiffany! "

Reply by Rokstedy
Thanks so much Charles. That comment means a lot to me

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Sarah, you entertain elegantly and sing beautifully and as an accompanist it is a pleasure to work with you. The concert last month was well received by the audience and the programme was spot on! Highly recommended. Alan Briggs"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review: