"Where to even start?! WOW! We’re honestly all still buzzing! What a night we all had on Saturday! Honestly, it was so, so special for us and you guys were the biggest part of that. I knew you were going to be amazing but you were amazing AND THEN SOME! It’s so lovely to hear that you were all loving life too – that means a lot! I just can’t thank you enough personally for all of your help and advice in the lead up to the party – you’ve been so helpful, accommodating and reassuring the whole time and just been so nice to be in touch with! It’s been such a pleasure! And again on the day you were a complete star and took so much work away from us as we literally didn’t have to worry about you guys – you had it all in hand, even the clearing up – naughty! Haha! Please pass on our sincere thanks to Dale and the whole band who are all so super talented, and so super fun! They absolutely made our night! I had high expectations and they smashed them! I have to give a shout out to our singers (Dee and Mel was it?!), I mean how incredible were they?! So much charisma and sass- I think I’m actually obsessed with them haha! Not forgetting the Swing Singer and Quartet you also provided. Amazing! Thanks for making it such a special night for us and our guests – you knocked all of our socks off! We will absolutely be recommending you to anyone and everyone (!) and wouldn’t hesitate to book you guys again for any future event that we’re having. You should all be so proud of the overall package you provide as a band – it’s unique and it’s special. THANK YOU for everything. I’m so sad this is all over so let’s just say, until the next time…! ? All the very best, xx"
Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:
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" 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"
Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:
"Rocktonight were a key part of our big day! Not only did they sing my entrance song (they prepared a song chosen by me, "At Last" by Etta James), but they played throughout the cocktail party and then livened up the party with a mega concert. Many were guests who told us it was the best cover band they had ever seen, especially at a wedding! Thank you so much, it was amazing, I highly recommend it!"
Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:
"We hired Vibrant Jazz fairly last minute and were impressed with how efficiently they responded to emails etc to organise the booking. They made everything hassle-free. The band were fantastic on the night and all of our guests were really impressed. The music fitted perfectly with our 1920's style event and the band were happy to stop and start around our speeches etc. We would definitely recommend them and would use again in the future. Entertaining, efficient and great value for money!"
Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:
"A huge thank-you for your fantastic performance at our wedding. Everyone thought you were brilliant and have been talking of nothing else! We had a perfect day and you were a big reason for that. The disco was spot on too; ’Not one dud’ as someone was heard to shriek!"
Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:
"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"
Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:
"What a great group of musicians On 30 June, we had a fantastic celebration for our 40th wedding anniversary. Everything was perfect: the location, the weather, the food, the people, and the music. What a great group of musicians you sent—we received compliments from all sides. Not only was the music excellent, but the way they approached it was perfect: they arrived, found a good spot, set up quietly without anyone really noticing, and then started playing beautifully. No fuss or showmanship—just playing perfectly at the right volume. Thank you, the music truly contributed to making the celebration a success. "
Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:
"Thanks a lot for the music. I really enjoyed it and many of the guests also commented how great you guys sounded and how the style fitted perfectly with our day"
Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:
"To Jim and the whole Swing Shift crew: My wife and I just really wanted to thank you guys YET AGAIN for playing at our wedding back on Dec 21, 2010. So great to have you here for my brother's wedding too. Thank you so much, for all the fun, for all the joy. Thank You! JP & Michelle & baby Penelope Love"
Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:
"Simone's performance capabilities as a jazz trumpet player are truly masterful. His technical proficiency, expressive playing, and improvisational skills make him a standout musician. Whether performing in small ensembles or leading a jazz band, Simone's performances never fail to leave a lasting impression."
Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:
"Working with Sty has always been a pleasure - something to look up to. You work with a lot of great talents in the industry but it is very rare that you mean someone who actually pays attention to every single detail and wants to make every show a sensation. Above all, she is a very good friend and a joy to meet for all who have had the pleasure of meeting her. Without second thought, one of the most beautiful voices I have heard in my life, charisma that dazzles and and energy that lights up the room. Even if the stars up in the sky stop shining one day, theres one star from Cyprus that will never stop💫 Are we allowed to give 6 stars??⭐️ **asking for a friend 😅"
Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:
"I had an incredible experience! I had the opportunity to have Igor and Sergei play the double bass and piano for my proposal, and it couldn’t have been more beautiful. We spoke over Zoom and on the phone to go over the details, and they truly understood my vision. They even checked out some of the songs I wanted to include. They arrived on time and delivered an unforgettable performance. I will definitely hire them again for future events and highly recommend them"
Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:
"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"
Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:
"5 stars deluxe Dear Danilo, Now we would like to write a review for you and your brother Tobias. We decided on a complete package of DJ + singer + photographer for our wedding and were mega happy with the all-round carefree constellation. You are really a great and well-rehearsed team. Danilo, your singing had already moved us to tears when we met you. It was simply wonderful to dance our wedding dances with life song. All our guests were thrilled and full of praise, especially the bridesmaids when you performed your show. Also, you were up for any fun. ? When Danilo wasn't singing, his brother Tobias was the DJ and provided us with great dance music. We had a lot of fun, especially at the Ostrock Block. We can wholeheartedly recommend all three of you and would book you again and again. Keep up the good work. Hopefully we'll see you three again sometime. For now, enjoy your well-deserved holiday. Best regards Steffy & Marco"
Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:
"Rock tonight were the highlight of our wedding! They were fantastic. They done a lovely acoustic set during our cocktail hour then the band played after dinner. They created the most amazing atmosphere and we danced all night. 3 months on and our guests are still talking about them! Laura and the band are super friendly and always on hand to answer any questions. High recommend!"
Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review: