Review Centre: Jazz Bands

"So awesome to see the co-creative potential made manifest in such a tangible way, thanks for being part of the magic that was Luminate 2019!!"

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"With the variation Voyage brings they got our children and us swinging. Class performance!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Thank you so much for the performance! The music on arrival created a fantastic atmosphere. We received a lot of positive feedback."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Saptham rocked the stage at the Solace fundraiser event! Their performance was nothing short of amazing, and the crowd loved every minute of it. Each member of the band showcased their incredible talent, making it clear that they’re one of the best Indian oak fusion bands out there. It was a fantastic night filled with great music and good vibes!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"I have hired Aaron to play music at multiple events over the years and he always does an incredible job. 10/10 highly recommend!"

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"Babis did such an amazing job at our wedding on Paros. He worked with us on curating the best playlist to our favorite songs and vibes we like. He was great at communicating and making sure all details were sorted out! Would highly recommend!!"

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:

"Absolutely fantastic . Turned up on time and professionally prepared . Exceptional singing and the band truly entertained the crowd . Everyone was raving about how magical and brilliant Laura & her band were and their songs truly added to the event . "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Bertram & Kadi truly tied our tranquil cottage wedding together. Their music created exactly the atmosphere we had hoped for - sweet, playful, and effortlessly elegant. We loved working with them beforehand to put together a setlist of our favourite jazz standards, and they even learned a song without sheet music online so we could listen to our special song on our special day. We couldn't have asked for a more wonderful duo."

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"Had a fantastic time listening to this group with a diverse type of music and songs . Would highly recommend them to other venues . "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Nadine and her Soul of New York Band performed at our 50th anniversary party and were absolutely incredible! From the moment they started playing, they created a fantastic atmosphere that had everyone’s attention. Nadine’s voice was powerful and pitch-perfect, and the rest of the band showcased impressive skills and stage presence. They were incredibly professional and easy to work with. Our guests are still talking about how much fun they had and how great the band was. If you’re looking for a band that will elevate your event and keep the party going, look no further. Can’t wait to see them perform again!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Many thanks to you and the band for a fantastic night. We have had lots of great feedback and the only complaints are that it was all over too soon."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We recently had the pleasure of having Scott play at my husband's 60th birthday party. The evening started with Scott just playing piano and then moved on to his keyboard and sang. He was fantastic and all of our guests loved him. We enjoyed his music so much that we asked him to stay a little later and he graciously agreed. He is a very accomplished musician and very professional. Scott exceeded our expectations and we are looking forward to having him perform at our next party."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Wonderful and lovely musicians. Made our event even more special. Thank you. Super user friendly and reliable as well."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We are passionate about Sinatra, and Giuliano's beautiful voice made our wedding truly unforgettable. His performance added a touch of class and elegance, creating a unique atmosphere. Giuliano is not only a great artist on stage but also an exquisite person. His kindness and friendliness made our encounter a true pleasure. The ensemble of musicians who accompanied him was top-notch, contributing to a perfect musical experience. In short, if you're looking for a top-level swing professional for your wedding, Giuliano is the perfect choice. He made our day truly special, and we can't thank him enough for the unforgettable performance."

Reply by Giuliano Ligabue
Thank you for your glowing review! It was an absolute pleasure to be a part of your special day. I'm thrilled my performance added class and elegance to your wedding, and that you enjoyed the music. Your kind words about my voice and demeanor mean a lot. Thank you for choosing me—I'm honored. Wishing you a lifetime of happiness together!

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review: