Review Centre: Vintage Themed Bands

"Thanks to Fête Laweit, we can say about the 1st edition of Ballucinant that it was more than successful! The group closed the festival , creating a wonderful and enchanting atmosphere. Constant dancing, and constant fun showed that they were the perfect group for the evening."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We have had Laura at Bar 69 twice once as a Band and another time as a Duo . She has been excellent with a dynamic voice coupled with a sparkling personality and infectious smile . Goes out of her way to interact with guests and has been flexible by her song collection reading the crowd and their needs well . "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"The Swiss Chalet [where Joie de Vivre played a concert on Bastille Day] is a very rare “trophy property” designed and restored exclusively for Private Members only. The Chalet is one of the most famous secret landmarks used by some of the most discerning personalities in the World. From King Edward VII right through to Charlie Chaplin, Fred Astaire, Marlin Monroe to mention but a few. Today only the most exclusive guests are privy to be entertained at this amazing private residence.​For this precise reason we have carefully selected what I would call rising stars. I just wanted to say how thrilled we were with your performance at our private function. Everyone commented on how amazing [Muriele's} voice was. I have had so many people ask for your names! [Joie de Vivre were] just amazing and I can’t tell you how delighted I was! You blew our guests away with such unexpected talent. I’d highly recommend you to anyone especially anyone seeking music and performance to enhance any exquisite occasion!! You score very high in my preferred Jazz music performance !! All the best"

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:

"What an absolutely fantastic band, we recently hired them for our mums Gatsby themed party, they were amazing, would definitely recommend them to add that touch of roaring 20s Glitz & Glamour to any occasion, 5 Stars"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We had the pleasure to have Cranberry Flick at our event. They were a joy to listen to and we had some lovely comments from our customers about the band. They are professional and well organised which was very refreshing! We would highly recommend Cranberry Flick for any events - wedding, parties etc and we’re positive you will love them as much as we did!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Joie de Vivre were wonderful. Sounded as good as they looked. Added so much atmosphere to our day. We re-booked on the spot for next year. Thank you very much."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Really good music, the perfect accompaniment to our event and Mike was very pleasant and easy to work with. "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"There have been many jazz musicians – saxophonists John Coltrane and George Brooks to name a couple – who have been intrigued by the melodic and rhythmic complexities of Hindustani classical music. Saxophonist Rainer Pusch, how!ever, belongs to the rare breed of Western musicians who have been influenced by Carnatic music. The Carnatic connection came later, but jazz caught Pusch’s interest at an early age. As a 12-year-old learning the tenor sax, a “very bad teacher” scared him into quitting lessons and starting to jam with friends. “At the age of 14 I got into jazz,” he told us. “I heard the first album by [American free jazz saxophonist] Pharaoh Sanders and this album [Pharaoh’s First] kicked me in.” Pusch got completely hooked after his brother smuggled him into The Cave, a jazz club in Heidelberg. “They had jam sessions every Tuesday,” he said. “It was 1968, the time of free jazz, underground music and the hippie era. Heidelberg was the headquarters of the US army in Europe, and there were a lot of army clubs, where I found my first steady work.” Playing for Americans every Friday and Saturday was an ideal start. It was a stroke of luck that Pusch met his “first jazz guru”, saxophonist Pony Poindexter. “Pony Poindexter’s wife worked for the army and they were living in Mannheim at the time,” Pusch said. “Pony had already subbed for Charlie Parker in Billy Eckstine’s big band, recorded with [guitarist] Wes Montgomery, the vocal trio Lambert, Hendricks and Ross, and many others.” Pusch started taking lessons from Poindexter and, after a while, they started performing together. Poindexter was instrumental, in helping Pusch further his jazz education by introducing him to other American musicians. “He knew everybody,” Pusch recalled. “Through him, I met Dexter Gordon. Art Blakey sat in with us when we played an outdoor gig.” Later, in 1977, Pusch stayed with Poindexter in New York, where he met the cream of the city’s jazz scene. “He invited Philly Joe Jones to stay for two weeks in our Lower East Side loft; I met Eddie Jefferson, Bob Berg, Junior Cook,” Pusch said. He also took lessons from George Coleman, who had briefly been part of Miles Davis’s band in the early ’60s. On his return to Germany, Pusch released his first album as leader of his own outfit. However, his connection to America persisted; he would return to earn a degree in jazz composition and arrangement from the Berklee College of Music in Boston, in 1983. Pusch’s first album Journey Agent, released in 1981, was an assimilation of the styles typical of hard bop and post-bop American musicians he had met during the past decade. On the album, his quartet, which included piano, double bass and drums, performed originals and a cover of “Mixing Pot” by Brazilian musician Hermeto Pascoal. Mostly mid-tempo numbers, the tunes ranged from the ballad-like “Scientific” and earthy “B-flat Blues” to funky, Latin-inflected “Mixing”. “I’m influenced by all the players I like to listen to,” Pusch said. “That’s the secret about jazz. It isn’t only music; it’s a philosophy of personal self-development built on tolerance and the art of living in the moment.” He has performed in a variety of formats: duo, trio, quartet and big bands. Pusch is also a composer and arranger who has scored symphonic pieces for films. Pusch’s first major Indian encounter was in the late-’90s, when he performed at the Avignon Theatre Festival in France. “It had a focus on India, and members of the Kalakshetra College of Dance and Music were performing,” he said. “I got in touch with them and decided to go to Chennai to study.” Pusch received a scholarship from ICCR and moved with his family to Chennai in 1996. He would remain there for more than two years, studying Carnatic vocal from S Rajaram and rhythms from V Selvaganesh. “I got into the movie business and performed for many music directors, inclu!ding AR Rahman,” he said. There have been Carnatic saxo!phonists, like Kadri Gopalnath, before him, but Pusch is probably the first Westerner to perform the traditional south Indian style on the sax. He has also arranged compositions by Thyagaraja, Mysore Vasudeva and others, using a rhythm section comprised of guitar, bass and drums. “We respect the raga, but put it in a harmonic frame,” he said. “It’s not the style, but the attitude of the musician that counts. The future of music, art and culture lies in a respectful, well-understood and lived fusion. Not in a commercial, fast food con-fusion.”"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Just a line to thank you so much for your set at our party. You really were excellent. As people left and in the thank you notes so many people commented on what a great band you are and how much they enjoyed your music. Very professional and very talented."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Cranberry Flick entertained us at our Garden Party at Kings Newton. They played some excellent music which was enjoyed by everyone and all the members were delightful. Very professional and organised. We would certainly highly recommend them."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"A truly sublime evening! - I could not recommend Dolores & F. highly enough, led by the exquisite vocals of Sarah Jane. Our perfect mid-summer conditions; outdoor 60th birthday with 80+ guests, were complemented by crystal-clear vocals, excellent instrumentalists and a repertoire from ‘50s -90s which set and caught the mood. The band’s flexibility even embraced ‘roving’ musicians (ie the birthday boy on clarinet) who wanted to indulge in some trad jazz. Everyone had such a good time, in no small part due to the quality, atmosphere and enjoyment created by D&F. Brilliant!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We were indeed very fortunate to be introduced to Girl Friday ensemble whilst on a 2hour sunset cruise of Maloolaba canals. Girl Friday did not stop. From Classic jazz numbers to crooners and everything in betweent they had it all covered. A huge Thankyou for bringing something back of which we have been missing. Fabulous entertainment with songs and music we can relate to and all sung to perfection. Thankyou. I will be following you in your Socials now hoping to catch you on future gigs. Cheers M "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Lucienne brings joy and happiness to any occasion. She sings a variety of songs perfectly, and is beautifully accompanied by top class musicians. I've very much enjoyed Lucienne's events in several bars, restaurants and most recently at Salts Mill, Saltaire. Very professional. Highly recommended. "

Reply by Lucienne de Ville
Thank you Helen for your fantastique review. Very much appreciated and very kind. I'm glad you enjoy our shows/events. Lucienne x

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Thank you all so much for such a fantastic evening on Saturday! The feedback has been unbelievable - everyone loved the evening and especially the band. Your voice has been commented on by many and lots of people are saying we must get them again! Whether that will be jazz / jive or 60s/70s, I don't know...but I will get back to you when the time is right. The selection you chose for the 2 sets was perfect - the first allowing people to chat and the second winding up the tempo for a dance. We have never seen so many people dancing in the Hall and - of all ages. So, very well done to you all and lots of thanks."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review: