Review Centre: 1970s Era Musicians & Bands

"Music is the voice of the spirit, bringing harmony to the soul. Thank you for the amazing evening of music to the soul at The UMAHoF 2024 this weekend. You are amazing! Hope to enjoy your beautiful Saxy music soon. God bless, my dear friend, Dr. Jose Luis Hinojosa!!!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"History: At the end of 2022, Ras Maxx David decided to put together a new reggae band, after more than 15 years leading the roots reggae band Shakti I&I. That's how he got together with Johan, Clot's kid, on guitar and Tomas from Argentinian Córdoba on drums. The first line-up had Ronald Salamandra on bass and Andres Tosh on keyboards, both Venezuelans. On vocals, they collaborated with Monica, Ursula, Carlota and today with Alba. The current lineup features Mel (Ras Kuko, Roe Delgado, Gadys, Leon Demaria, 9 Roots) on bass guitar, and Dontai directly from Puerto Rico (Shakti I&I, Leon Demaria, 9 Roots) on keyboards. Juanele completes the equipment from the sound console with live dub effects. They have premiered at the Palau St Jordi at the Biocultura 2023 fair, at several major festivals in Barcelona (Poble Nou, Navas, La Sedeta) and several famous clubs in the city (Jamboree, Marula, Diobar, Almo2Bar, BlackLab, Estraperlo, Garage Beer, etc.) Ras Maxx David is presenting his latest LP titled "No Competition". (2025)."

Rating: 9 / 10 Share this review:

"Shake, I just wanted to say a huge thank you for performing at my 50th birthday. You did such an amazing job. Your voice is incredible and the songs you played were perfect for the night. What really made it special was how you involved yourself with everyone and got the crowd engaged — it created such a great atmosphere. Everyone at the party commented on how good you were and how much they enjoyed the music. You really helped make the night unforgettable. Thanks again, Shake. We really appreciate it!"

Reply by Shake the drummer & DJ
Paula thank you so much for having me for your special day. It was an absolute honour and pleasure playing 80s and 90s hits for you and your friends.

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Great energy and great music! Very interactive and open for suggestions, overall created a very fun and music filled environment! Would love to see his performance again"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We were so pleased with Barbera &Champagne; their music is wonderful! They set the mood for a festive evening at the beginning of the reception at my son's wedding reception. Her voice is so beautiful and powerful and she sings in both Italian and English. She was lovely to deal with and understanding of a last minute location change at the venue-the Castello di Potentino. I highly recommend this duo for your own occasion and I know you will be as happy with them as we were!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"While visiting The Mercado was giving the opportunity to witness such talent Dr Saxy is truly amazing breathtaking "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Amazing, will definitely be asking them to do another function in the near future. Thank you to them both"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

" If you’re looking for some GREAT MUSIC and FELLOWSHIP for any occasion, this band is for you! They sang some Betty Wright and man that was before my time, but still a jam and they did that song and so many other songs justice! Check them out for yourself, you won’t be disappointed."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"I go to el Mercado District with my family, and I love hearing Dr. Saxy play. No matter what song he plays, he always seems to bring the right kind of vibe. He can get people up to dance or even just interacting with him when he plays. It is obvious he is very talented. "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We booked Alive and Kicking earlier in the year 2019 and they were great, so we decided to book them for our New Year s Eve party. They played a great variety of songs that went down a storm during the evening. Everyone had a fantastic time and were dancing the night away. Thanks Again. "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"I had a great time, he was very nice and cool! I enjoyed the music :)"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Saw the duo last night in Midhurst. Really enjoyable to watch with a great sound and a great repertoire . Highly recommended"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We were absolutely over the moon with your service and performance at the Dulwich College 400 Anniversary Black & Blue ball. You all looked very smart, but Rock’n’Roll, in your black shirts and jeans; your setting up and help with the boys’ big band ( kindly letting them use your drum kit and amp) was seamless and last but not least, your sets were outstanding! The song choices were spot on, as you clearly know what gets everyone going. You may remember, we struggled to get the guests to leave the dance floor when the end of the evening was announced. If we hadn’t had to finish at a certain time, due to residential area and license, we would have had you play until daylight! We received many compliments, on your behalf, from guests’ feedback and will not hesitate in booking you again for any future parties. Sarah Pattinson The DC400Ball Committee Below, is a snippet from one of the guests: The band was outstanding (possibly one of the best I have ever heard at these dos) and I danced the rest of the night away – everyone on the dance floor wanted the band to continue when the plug got pulled! And another – The band was SO good, I spent the rest of the night boogie-ing away! The dance floor was rammed and everyone was having such a fantastic time."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"I booked Simon and Aden as our entertainment for a cafe style social group and we were blown away! Our people absolutely loved the music that they tailored to the audience and their musicianship is superb! As a duo, they compliment each other so well with Aden's fantastic vocals (and guitar) and Simon on guitar. They are true performers - interacting with the crowd and understanding the personnel. I am sorry it was only 45mins! We will definitely be booking them again. Olivia"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"All of this is an admittedly roundabout way of confessing that I wasn't prepared to be as delighted as I am with Go Tell It on the Mountain (Silkheart), an album of traditional hymns and originals with heaven-gazing titles by Booker T. Williams Jr., a New York-based tenor saxophonist originally from Seattle who performs as Booker T. The obsessive soul-searching implicit in the programming suggests an affinity with John Coltrane. But unlike too many of the saxophonists who aim for Coltrane's spiritual elevation, Booker T has a devilish sense of humor best illustrated by his "Say amen, Gracie" drollery on "What a Friend We Have in Jesus," a homey little melody he elongates and fragments with the comic élan of a Sonny Rollins. In fact, the classic album that Go Tell It on the Mountain most recalls is Way Out West, Rollins's 1958 album of cowboy tunes--and not just because Booker T, like Rollins before him, finds inspiration in unlikely places. It's also because Booker T's interaction with the bassist Saheb Sarbib and the drummer Andrew Cyrille is as carefree and almost as electrifying as Rollins's with Ray Brown and Shelly Manne thirty years ago (or better yet, with Wilbur Ware and Elvin Jones on A Night at the Village Vanguard, from around the same time). Despite the sarcasm implicit in Booker T's low-register bleats, his performances of "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" and "Jesus Loves Me" exude sincerity, much the way Rollins's interpretations of oddball pop tunes do. For Booker T, as for Rollins, satire is a sign of respect, not condescension. Booker T is ecumenical: one of the album's most infectious cuts is "Halle Kalle Mazeltov," a hora whose modality he cagily exploits. The Spartan trio format means that Sarbib and Cyrille have to function as soloists as well as rhythm stalwarts, and both men shoulder the added burden gracefully, maintaining melodic continuity in a manner that bassists and drummers seldom do when they solo. Despite the length of some of the tracks (the title tune, which is just over sixteen minutes, is a Booker T original, not the folk song of the same name), Booker T's solos never deteriorate into self-indulgent braying. His sense of thematic exposition is too well developed for that-another cue he takes from Rollins. (And as if to underscore his lineage, the CD-only bonus track is Rollins's calypso "St. Thomas.") He switches to alto on his own "When Mama Cries I Cry," and his phrasing is impressively speechlike on this lighter horn. "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review: