Review Centre: Jazz Bands

"New Orleans is a state-of-mind. Every year around this time of year, Mardi Gras is an explosion of joyousness. You don't have to travel down to Louisiana to feel it. Its spirit resides in Mercer County in a little town called Ewing, where Joe Grillo leads The Gumbo Gumbas on a Cajun holiday all year round. The jump-blues, zydeco, rocl'n'roll, jazz, folk strains and oh such soul are on full display wherever they play. Now you can even share that feeling, that zest for life, that passionate embodiment of the groove, in your own home. Zydeland has to be the feel-good album of the year so far. Written, arranged, produced, sung and honked on his tenor sax, Grillo imbues Zydeland with a Bourbon Street beat. He's an honorary French Quarter denizen of the night. Of course, there's always time to invoke a little Tom Waits on highlight "Can't Go Back to New Orleans" The colors mix and mingle with tuba, banjo, guitar, violin, viola, cello, trombone, accordion, piano, bass, clarinet, soprano sax, trumpet and that penetration percolation percussion. Excuse me, I got to get on up and do the boogaloo. You just can't set still for this thing."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"I am pleased to recommend Anna Yeliseieva, an exceptionally talented singer, for your events. At 321 Events, we have had the privilege of hiring Anna for several occasions, and she has always impressed us with her incredible voice, professionalism, and ability to engage the audience. Anna performs across a variety of genres, including Pop, R&B, Jazz, Soul, and Lounge. Her versatility and skill allow her to adapt to any event, whether it’s a small gathering or a large celebration. She is not only a gifted artist but also a true professional—punctual, reliable, and a pleasure to work with. Anna brings energy and elegance to every performance, making her a great choice for any event. We highly recommend Anna Yeliseieva and are confident she will add a special touch to your occasion. Best regards, Arafa Mohammed PR/Events 321 Events DMCC "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"A delightful evening in the Lakes in part thanks to Dinner Jazz Duo, who provided the lovely music to accompany our party. Would love to book the band again in the future."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Bravissimi, raffinati, di classe, eleganti, repertorio vasto ma coinvolgente"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Brilliant Band.... music fantastic. Definitely have them again and three lovely gentlemen. Just wish we could have had them for longer."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"“Just a quick email to thank you for the wonderful performance you gave at Joy’s graduation party. Your band was one element of a great night, but Blue Velvet more than anything added a sophisticated atmosphere. Your repertoire was great and you always played at an appropriate level. You were punctual, reliable and did exactly what what we agreed. Very professional all round and most importantly, enjoyable. We couldn’t be more pleased. Please pass our thanks on to the other members of the band. If you ever need a good word from a satisfied client to get a gig, feel free to let me know. I’d be happy to oblige.” — Daniel K"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"I would like to thank the entire team for their outstanding performance. Everyone spoke very highly of the Jazz Duo, and I hope they enjoyed the evening as much as we did."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Hired as a saxophone soloist- lively player with great energy!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"You might expect an album with edgy, teal-lit cover art and the title of The Isolation Blues, by the Mike Goudreau Band, to be either dark and brooding or a real barroom stomper, showcasing the loudest guitar you’ve heard since Jimi Hendrix’s. Instead, from the first notes, you’ll find it’s a peppy ensemble extravaganza with horns galore. More’s the better, too – the Winter Solstice is coming up, and we need an eye-opening blast of sunshine in the middle of it. Smooth, jazzy-influenced, and boasting crystal-clear vocals, it’s a must-play on New Year’s Eve. Born in 1965 in Newport, Vermont, into a musical family with an English mother and a French-Canadian father, Mike Goudreau picked up his first guitar at age 14 and hasn’t stopped playing since. His early influences included the Beatles, Chuck Berry, Rolling Stones, Johnny Cash, Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra, and later, Albert King, Freddie King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Powder Blues and Downchild – to name a few. Such diverse interests help to explain why Mike is comfortable in so many musical genres, especially jazz and blues. Since 2007, Mike’s songs have been heard on hundreds of network TV shows and films, such as the TV movie The Happiest Season (Hulu), Dynasty (CBS), the Universal Pictures film Dark Waters, the Hollywood film The Banker, starring Samuel Jackson (2020), The Neighborhood (CBS), NCIS Los Angeles (CBS), and Chicago PD (NBC), among several others. Joining Mr. Goudreau (vocals, guitars, bass and hand claps) are Jean-Francois Begin (think Menachem Begin, not “begin”) on drums and percussion, Dany Roy on tenor sax and trumpet, Ira Friedman on organ and piano, and Pascal Veilette on harmonica. You know all the shows and films mentioned earlier? Together, they spell diamond-level QUALITY. That’s what’s been poured into each of the fourteen original tracks on this CD. Every note, every musical phrase, glimmers like the light off one of that gem’s many facets. This is real-deal blues, whether in swing/jump form (as on the opener “Let’s Go Down to the River”), the angsty, harmonica-infused title track, the guitar and piano boogie known as “The Mooch,” or the laid-back instrumental “Sea Breeze Blues.” Any band can crank out an album in their garage or basement and deem it good enough, but not Goudreau and his posse. They care about their offerings like Michelangelo cared about David, or Da Vinci the Mona Lisa. That’s because they’re not just musicians. Not just craftsmen. They’re artists, and don’t you forget it. Got The Isolation Blues? Here’s the cure, or at least the vaccine! "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We had Blue Moon Italian Jazz band for our welcome party, at Castello di Montalto on the 31st May 2024. All I can say is, wow. They were incredible. They really set the tone for the start of our wedding weekend. Not only was their communication brilliant throughout, they were easy-going and stress free as a supplier. The music itself was beautiful and they are extremely talented. I would absolutely recommend booking them for your wedding. Thank you so much for making our wedding weekend so special. "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Sol Chango played at our wedding and made such beautiful music. We asked them to play instrumentally after the ceremony and it was just magical. They added a singer for their performance after the wedding dinner and they really got the crowd going. They were lovely to deal with and played such a great repertoire of timeless music. We loved having them! "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We got the Street Foxes to perform for our cocktail hour and the first hour of the main party of our wedding. It was a great decision! They were perfect and got the exact vibe we were going for. They were also great to deal with throughout the process. We explained we wanted a more chilled vibe for our cocktail hour and a bit more upbeat for the start of the party. They nailed the mood we asked for during both sets. Couldn't recommend them any higher!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Professional, supportive, and can throw down on that sax!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Igor exceeded our expectations — he played during our son’s wedding cocktail hour and sounded absolutely amazing!"

Reply by Ontario saxophonist Igor Babich
Thank you so much, Mary!

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"What a surprise! This band and musicians were unknown to me, but they are absolutely great! For listeners to hear musicians challenge themselves, and be taken along for the ride, records like this are a must! The musicians in the Rick Holland-Evan Dobbins Little Big Band are all reaching the high musical standards realized by playing in this excellent Little Big Band! This music will be featured in my playlists for many months to come. Thank you again for sending this exceptional cd to me. Peter Kuller, Jazz Presenter, Radio 101.5 FM Adelaide, Australia"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review: