Review Centre: Jazz Bands

"Edelweiss String Quartet were a pleasure to work with. They were friendly, professional, and very accommodating, making sure the music was tailored to our wishes. Their performance was beautiful and created a lovely atmosphere for our day. We're very happy we chose them."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Seps’ Elevated Our Wedding to Perfection! We recently had the pleasure of having Seps’ as the saxophone player at our wedding, and we cannot express how grateful we are for the incredible experience he provided. The feedback from our friends and family has been nothing short of spectacular, and it's easy to see why. Sep's performance was nothing short of phenomenal. The seamless integration of EDM songs, per our request, added a modern twist that left our friends thoroughly impressed. His ability to engage guests during the cocktail hour, moving around with his saxophone, created an atmosphere that was lively, energetic, and utterly enjoyable for everyone. The grand entrance was an absolute showstopper, and we owe it all to Seps’. His musical accompaniment turned the moment into a cinematic experience, adding a layer of elegance and excitement that elevated the entire evening. What truly stood out, beyond the incredible performance, was the ease of working with Seps’. The upfront prep work and communication were impeccable. Seps’ was always clear, on top of every detail, and made the entire process hassle-free for us. His professionalism allowed us to relax and fully enjoy our celebration without any worries. If you're looking for a saxophone player who is not only incredibly talented but also a joy to work with, Seps’ is the one. We wholeheartedly recommend him for any event where you want to add a touch of musical magic. Thank you, Seps’ for making our wedding truly unforgettable and for seamlessly incorporating our unique tracklist. You added an exceptional touch to our special day."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"What an amazing evening, all thanks to Stefano and the Good Time Soul Foundation! They made our special day even more unforgettable. So professional, attentive, and always right on point. We’re truly grateful. Daniele & Alessandra"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"A top notch evening. Wonderful entertainment, serious musicianship and big smiles all night! They look as good as they sound. What a fantastic band - highly recommended."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We hired Celebrate Liveband for our private party, and they exceeded all our expectations! Their diverse repertoire appealed to guests of all ages, and their performance was flawless. Thank you for making our event truly special!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Dan was great. He arrived in a timely fashion, his setup was easy and didn't require much space. He played on the outdoor patio at Point Cavallo where we hosted a fund raising event for Dr. Vivek Murthy, Surgeon General. I'd hire him again!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Der Auftritt der Skyline Club Band auf dem Gala Event der Kinderhilfestiftung war ein Highlight. Die Band hat es selbst am Ende der Veranstaltung geschafft, den Großteil der Teilnehmer noch zum Tanzen auf die Bühne zu bringen. Die Vorbesprechung war absolut unkompliziert, die Abwicklung sehr professionell und die Darbietung absolut überzeugend, die Musikauswahl top und entsprechend den Bedürfnissen des Publikums . Skyline Club Band kann ich absolut weiterempfehlen!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"The band was very good and professional, and gave us the exact soundtrack we wanted! We absolutely recommend them, both for the wedding ceremony and after, just to spend a nice evening listening to some good music!"

Reply by Gajè Gipsy Swing
Thank you Rita for your kind words, it was our plesure to play for you! Alessandro

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"What can I say... they played at our wedding last year in Merano and it was just AMAZING!!! Super friendly and (almost) always said yes to whatever we asked. They played soooo good, everybody loved them!!! I’d book them again in a heartbeat , totally recommended!!!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Victor was wonderful! Quick to reply, timely, professional, and really understood the vibe I was hoping for. He played acoustic guitar and sang while our guests were welcomed during a cocktail hour. Highly recommend! "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"André was the musician for our Roof Top Wedding in October 2023. The experience with him was amazing. His music, involvement and overall feel for what we wanted was 100% on par and even exceeded our expectations. His music and singing was beautiful, classy and he created a memorable atmosphere. High recommendation from us. Gosha and Wessel "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Spectacular!!! Extremely satisfied. The three Jo’s are an outstanding ensemble. They captured the mood and ambiance perfectly. Everyone praised their performance. I’ve heard from the Jo’s that several guests were so impressed that they might consider booking them in the future. I hope they do—they truly deserve it. Kars, I’ll be honest: the price was steep, but absolutely worth it. If I had to do it again, I would book them in a heartbeat. Thank you for the correct and professional collaboration. Hopefully, we’ll work together again for a future booking."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"From the first note to the last, their musicianship was flawless and their presence brought a truly luxurious atmosphere."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"There have been many jazz musicians – saxophonists John Coltrane and George Brooks to name a couple – who have been intrigued by the melodic and rhythmic complexities of Hindustani classical music. Saxophonist Rainer Pusch, how!ever, belongs to the rare breed of Western musicians who have been influenced by Carnatic music. The Carnatic connection came later, but jazz caught Pusch’s interest at an early age. As a 12-year-old learning the tenor sax, a “very bad teacher” scared him into quitting lessons and starting to jam with friends. “At the age of 14 I got into jazz,” he told us. “I heard the first album by [American free jazz saxophonist] Pharaoh Sanders and this album [Pharaoh’s First] kicked me in.” Pusch got completely hooked after his brother smuggled him into The Cave, a jazz club in Heidelberg. “They had jam sessions every Tuesday,” he said. “It was 1968, the time of free jazz, underground music and the hippie era. Heidelberg was the headquarters of the US army in Europe, and there were a lot of army clubs, where I found my first steady work.” Playing for Americans every Friday and Saturday was an ideal start. It was a stroke of luck that Pusch met his “first jazz guru”, saxophonist Pony Poindexter. “Pony Poindexter’s wife worked for the army and they were living in Mannheim at the time,” Pusch said. “Pony had already subbed for Charlie Parker in Billy Eckstine’s big band, recorded with [guitarist] Wes Montgomery, the vocal trio Lambert, Hendricks and Ross, and many others.” Pusch started taking lessons from Poindexter and, after a while, they started performing together. Poindexter was instrumental, in helping Pusch further his jazz education by introducing him to other American musicians. “He knew everybody,” Pusch recalled. “Through him, I met Dexter Gordon. Art Blakey sat in with us when we played an outdoor gig.” Later, in 1977, Pusch stayed with Poindexter in New York, where he met the cream of the city’s jazz scene. “He invited Philly Joe Jones to stay for two weeks in our Lower East Side loft; I met Eddie Jefferson, Bob Berg, Junior Cook,” Pusch said. He also took lessons from George Coleman, who had briefly been part of Miles Davis’s band in the early ’60s. On his return to Germany, Pusch released his first album as leader of his own outfit. However, his connection to America persisted; he would return to earn a degree in jazz composition and arrangement from the Berklee College of Music in Boston, in 1983. Pusch’s first album Journey Agent, released in 1981, was an assimilation of the styles typical of hard bop and post-bop American musicians he had met during the past decade. On the album, his quartet, which included piano, double bass and drums, performed originals and a cover of “Mixing Pot” by Brazilian musician Hermeto Pascoal. Mostly mid-tempo numbers, the tunes ranged from the ballad-like “Scientific” and earthy “B-flat Blues” to funky, Latin-inflected “Mixing”. “I’m influenced by all the players I like to listen to,” Pusch said. “That’s the secret about jazz. It isn’t only music; it’s a philosophy of personal self-development built on tolerance and the art of living in the moment.” He has performed in a variety of formats: duo, trio, quartet and big bands. Pusch is also a composer and arranger who has scored symphonic pieces for films. Pusch’s first major Indian encounter was in the late-’90s, when he performed at the Avignon Theatre Festival in France. “It had a focus on India, and members of the Kalakshetra College of Dance and Music were performing,” he said. “I got in touch with them and decided to go to Chennai to study.” Pusch received a scholarship from ICCR and moved with his family to Chennai in 1996. He would remain there for more than two years, studying Carnatic vocal from S Rajaram and rhythms from V Selvaganesh. “I got into the movie business and performed for many music directors, inclu!ding AR Rahman,” he said. There have been Carnatic saxo!phonists, like Kadri Gopalnath, before him, but Pusch is probably the first Westerner to perform the traditional south Indian style on the sax. He has also arranged compositions by Thyagaraja, Mysore Vasudeva and others, using a rhythm section comprised of guitar, bass and drums. “We respect the raga, but put it in a harmonic frame,” he said. “It’s not the style, but the attitude of the musician that counts. The future of music, art and culture lies in a respectful, well-understood and lived fusion. Not in a commercial, fast food con-fusion.”"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We have had nothing but compliments for the entertainment at the Gala Dinner at our National Rally this year. The choice of material for both sets was spot on. Pleasure working with you and I hope we may be able to do it again some time in the future. I will certainly be recommending you to anyone I come across looking for event entertainment."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review: