Review Centre: Wedding Bands

"If you're looking for a band who can come onstage to a marquee full of people quietly chatting and drinking and within minutes turn them into full-scale dance Machine with everybody in the place laughing and enjoying themselves, Then I think BLAG might be the act for you. Guests at our event (held to raise funds to prevent the destruction of a greenbelt zone) ranged from 20s to 60s, But all were captivated by the humour professionalism and generally good time emanating from rom the band. I am a professional filmmaker and have shot an l lot of promo videos for bands, from Euorope (yep, “the final countdown”) to Paul Young to AC/DC, and BLAG have that same charismatic quality that you see in all these massively successful bands. For a 3 piece they also a pack a monster sound, and over the course of three sets in one evening they played not only the gay Gordons and other traditional stuff but also sex and drugs and rock'n' roll and people are strange by the doors - not something you hear from average ceilidh band. I would highly recommend them if you're having any kind of function we want to get the whole crowd involved. Oh and did I mention they’re very nice guys as well?"

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"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"When looking for live music for our wedding at the Grand Hotel Tremezzo in Lake Como, we found Guty and Simone's website online, having read many of their extremely positive reviews, we contacted them and they certainly did not disappoint! They were the loveliest of people, so warm and friendly, and nothing was too much trouble for them, they accommodated all our requests with smiles on their faces :) Our wedding guests had a fantastic time dancing and singing until the early hours of the morning thanks to Guty and Simone! Highly professional and great value for money - we can not recommend these guys enough :)"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Many, many thanks for playing at our wedding, having heard you play before at a friend's wedding we knew that you'd be excellent and have everyone up on the dance floor, we weren't disappointed. Lots of people have commented as to how good you were, and the staff at the Homeward Park Hotel said you were the best band to play there in a long time. We'd be happy to recommend you to anyone. "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Get Gospel sung at our work Christmas event, live streamed via Zoom. They were absolutely phenomenal! Despite being a virtual event due to Covid, Get Gospel still gave an incredibly engaging and spine tingling performance. They interacted with the employees in between sets with quiz questions, and the feedback we've had from everyone is amazing. To end the set they sung a version of All I Want for Christmas adapted to reflect our company - it was just perfect! I highly recommend Get Gospel for virtual events and (covid permitting) in person events!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Sur Symphony brings pure magic to our restaurant nights! Their soulful Bollywood covers set the perfect vibe for our guests. Professional, warm, and full of energy — they truly elevate the dining experience. Our customers love the live music evenings. We’re proud to host such incredible talent regularly. "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Edu and Martí were our choice for live music during the cocktail hour and the two entrance songs for the ceremony. We have to say they exceeded expectations; they adapted the entrance songs to the ceremony without any problem and with much ease, giving us their professional advice and opinions. Many of the guests emphasized the quality of the live music. Without a doubt, a success to have them on our big day. Thank you very much to both of you!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Shades band was amazing, these guys are so talented and performed songs for all ages, even some rock n roll for my nanny and grandad x"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Lady Rose were our wedding entertainment and they were absolutely phenomenal. Jo's voice is incredible and their repertoire is extensive. Our first dance song was beautiful and all of our guests had a great time. We added on the DJ package and suggested the type of songs we enjoyed. Every song was great and they even took guest requests (at one point everyone was doing the Conga). We would 100% recommend Lady Rose for any event as the quality of their performance is outstanding. Their communication was great, they provided lots of options for songs & sets and made everything easy. "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We were super happy with Duo Voyage at our company party. She made a top mood!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Juampi hizo de nuestra boda un evento inolvidable con su increíble actuación. Nuestros invitados no podían dejar de hablar de lo maravilloso que fue! Incluso nos hizo subir a cantar a mi marido y a mi! 😅😅"

Reply by Jpp Live Music
Muchas gracias Moni querida! ❤️☺️

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Fan Club Jazz Band were AWESOME! Really easy to communicate with prior to the event, they got the setlist perfect for our audience. It was my partners 30th and she loved it! The performance was incredible, the dance floor was packed, and the set up looked fantastic too. They were also super friendly and considerate whilst setting up/packing down. Five stars for sure, would definitely recommend."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Felix is a talented pianist and singer who makes a positive impact in a care environment. He is extremely versatile and can play many genres of music, ranging from classical to popular hits. What makes Felix special is how he connects with people. He doesn’t just perform; he engages with the audience. Felix's music sessions lead to more social interactions, improved moods, and a sense of calm and comfort, especially for those with dementia or cognitive decline. For these residents, his music is not just entertainment; it is therapy and joy. "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Hi Nadia, Just a note to say thank you again for Friday – your performances fitted perfectly with the event and we got so many comments from people who really enjoyed what you did. We will definitely be in touch again soon about future events! (10 / 10)"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"The band at our wedding was absolutely phenomenal! From the first note to the last, they brought so much energy and talent to the night. The combination of trumpet, guitar, saxophone, voice, and drums created a perfect atmosphere that kept everyone on their feet, dancing all night long. Each musician was incredibly skilled, and the chemistry between them was incredible. The sax and trumpet added such a unique and lively touch, and the vocalist had a voice that truly wowed the crowd. Not only was the music amazing, but they were also super professional and flexible with our requests. The playlist was spot on, and they really knew how to read the room, keeping the vibe perfect from start to finish. Our guests couldn’t stop talking about how amazing the band was — they truly made the night unforgettable. We couldn’t have asked for a better band for our special day. Highly recommended for anyone looking for top-tier live music!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review: