Review Centre: Crooners

"Thanks for a great night last night. It was fantastic to see all our friends and family having such a good time. And the way you got everyone joining in with When You're Smiling and Minnie The Moocher was brilliant! Thanks again."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"“Adam Okin, you were incredible! All of our guests commented on how good you are and they all had a really great evening. As did we!” ​Mr and Mrs Spencer "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Great singer We hired Bruddah Vince for our baby shower this past weekend and he did an amazing job. He has a long list of songs in his repertoire and we were able to select all of our favorite ones. Excellent communicator and super friendly, we would hire him again in a heartbeat! Thanks Bruddah Vince."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"She was really sweet, showed up on time. She even saying, and played songs we requested. We were thankful to have live music at our event and she was great."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We recently hired Barbara e Champagne to perform at my parents' 45th wedding anniversary celebration, and the experience was nothing short of extraordinary. The event took place at a rented villa in Terracciola Toscana, and from the very start, the team showed a high level of professionalism and dedication. We had a small group of 12. They arrived an hour before the performance to set up and to ensure everything was perfectly aligned with our expectations. This attention to detail and their willingness to connect with us beforehand truly set the tone for a memorable evening. The music was simply beautiful. Carla's voice is stunningly natural and powerful, making the night truly unforgettable. Her performance, along with the talented musicians, brought a magical atmosphere to our celebration. It was evident that they love what they do, as their passion and enthusiasm shone through every note. Not only were they exceptional musicians, but they were also incredibly kind and friendly. Their warm and approachable demeanor added to the joy of the evening, making everyone feel welcomed and engaged. In summary, Barbara e Champagne exceeded all our expectations, creating a night filled with beautiful music and cherished memories. We highly recommend them for any special occasion."

Reply by Barbera & Champagne
Thank you very much for your review, Bridget! I am so sorry I did not reply earlier, please forgive me! So how is it going? Are you coming to Italy again soon? I hope everything is fine, please say hello to your awsome family and all the best by all of us! Carla, Dino, Guglielmo and Angelo.

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Crooner Ed was absolutely amazing!!! Crooner Ed customized and delivered the most wonderful show for my mother’s 90th birthday! The song choices were perfect and his voice is amazing! I requested songs from the Rat Pack, and was extremely impressed with his choices and execution. A wonderful addition to any special event. Thanks Crooner Ed for playing a part in making my mom’s birthday such a memorable one. Lisa"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Professional and really picks up the vibe nicely and plays appropriately. Pleasure to work with and really talented. Our patrons always enjoy his performances."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We have seen the Rat Pack musical twice on the big stage but this guy is THE BEST Sinatra we have seen! Brilliant!!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Professional, reliable and an amazing addition to our event. I would book Scott again."

Reply by World Renowned Saxophonist
You are very kind! Hopefully we can work together again in the future!

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We had the pleasure of being introduced to Manee Valentine through a close friend in our group and we requested his entertainment services for our event, "Hooray for Hollywood" last February 26, 2022, @ the Carson event center. To our delight, his addition to the show was a total success. His professionalism and talent are instrumental to satisfying any and all audiences. Great appearance craft and personality are the comments we've been hearing since that day. We will definitely work with him in other opportunities. Yes, we give him a thumbs up and highly recommend him."

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:

"Italian Wedding Band, Marino, where do we even start. We had Marino and the Italian Wedding Band play at our wedding, and they were nothing short of exceptional! From the very first note, they were a complete stand out – they had everyone on the dance floor, and it was impossible not to smile. They brought such a fun, energetic vibe, and their professionalism was clear from the moment they arrived. They truly are entertainers in every sense of the word – they read the room perfectly, created an incredible atmosphere, and even went above and beyond with a special performance for us, which we’ll remember forever. We were running a bit behind on the schedule, but they were so flexible and accommodating, working seamlessly around us to make sure the night flowed beautifully. Thank you so much to Marino and the Italian Wedding Band for making our night so magical – we couldn’t have asked for more!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Tim delivered an amazing performance and was the hit of the party. His Sinatra and Neil Diamond songs were spot on and made my mother‘s 80th birthday party an extra special evening to remember. Tim was responsive and the epitome of professionalism. Would highly recommend him and definitely would have him again."

Reply by Tim Oates - Frank Sinatra Tribute Show!
Thank you for the nice review, Daryl. I had a great time and your mother was such a delight! I really enjoyed working with you to make her birthday party a success!

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"This is a REALLY late review but I want the world to know what a great performance Steve puts on. He was a monthly performer at Shelby Crossing Senior Center when my mom was a resident and I enjoyed him so much that I asked him to play at my mom's funeral memorial. Everyone in attendance loved it as they knew my mom and dad were avid dancers and this was just the perfect sendoff."

Reply by Vintage Vocals - Steve Elmore
Sheila, Thank you for your wonderful review. I truly appreciate you taking the time to post this. God bless you. Steve Elmore

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Wow what a night we had with Denis !! So talented and professional, and the history behind songs and the story’s made the night , all our customers had the best night ( felt like a New Year’s Eve party 🤣) Ian smith ( owner), Sunday 31 August 2025"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review: