Review Centre: Blues Bands

"Like Morricone for Leone The Self Portrait Blues contribute to your wedding just as Ennio Morricone's soundtracks did for Sergio Leone's films. Leone's films were beautiful, of course, even without Morricone's music. But with Ennio, they became unforgettable masterpieces! And the Self Portrait Blues transform a beautiful wedding into an unforgettable event for you and your guests."

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"It was perfect! It was a fantastic day! The bride and groom, as well as everyone else, thoroughly enjoyed the music—it was perfect! "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We thoroughly enjoyed a stylish and musically high-level jazz performance. For our 50th anniversary, we were looking for an elegant jazz band, and this all-round Jazz Quartet exceeded our expectations. The communication beforehand was smooth and clear, which immediately gave us a reassuring feeling in the run-up to our event. On the day itself, the band members arrived well ahead of time at the Atomium—professional and well prepared. Their performance, in their classy dress code, was atmospheric and musically of a very high standard, striking exactly the right tone for this festive occasion. The music added an extra touch of class to the evening and was greatly appreciated by all our guests. In short: reliable, professional, and above all musically excellent. Highly recommended for anyone looking for quality live jazz!"

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:

"Nadia Koz played as a solo performer at our sisters birthday party at our house in the large backyard. She was on time to set up, was really kind and fun to talk to, and started exactly when she was supposed to. Her song choice somehow fit perfectly for the vibe we wanted, and she used some crazy guitar pedals, and was able to sound like a bunch of people playing instead of one. No complaints, it was the best hire we could've had."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Great performance by a great band. Perfect choice for weddings."

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"Dave was so gooood! He make that sax sing AND talk. My wife had a request, and Dave knocked it out the park, just like he was the original artist, even BETTER. We had about 150 people and Dave had everyone tuned into his music. Professional, courteous, friendly, and very easy going. He mingled well the guests. I am absolutely going to book him again and again. He made our July 4th celebration, the talk of Ontario. Thank you so much Dave, you are truly humble and you minister to people through your music. God bless you."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Thank you so much for performing at our daughters wedding in December. You are an extremely talented group of musicians and you certainly added ' a touch of class' to such a wonderful day. We all thoroughly enjoyed the style and quality of your jazz music; you provided a unique and varied tempo that complimented and enhanced our other musical selections for the wedding. Many of our guests commented on how much they enjoyed listening to you. Thank you all once again for contributing to such a memorable day and we wish you all the best."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Exceptional Performance by Simon, Vincent, and Kars We had the pleasure of experiencing a truly remarkable jazz performance by Simon and Vincent on Thursday, 29 June, with Kars providing excellent coordination. The interplay between the guitar and saxophone created a unique and sophisticated atmosphere that all our guests thoroughly enjoyed. Their professionalism was evident in every aspect of their performance. The duo was friendly and approachable, creating a welcoming environment that enhanced the overall appeal of the event. Their flexibility and willingness to accommodate our specific requests—particularly performing while moving between locations—was a standout feature. This added a dynamic element to their performance and contributed to the seamless flow of the event. We are especially grateful to Kars, the organizer. His meticulous attention to detail and dedication ensured the performance ran smoothly, exceeding all our expectations."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We wanted music for a small gathering of my friends and relatives…we didn’t want anything to loud, but still had energy to dance to.. my friend recommended Unexpected Duo, they played a lot of different types of music, we asked for dance music and that was no problem, they took a moment and before you know it ,everyone was on the patio dancing, we were singing to all of the songs by that point, I will hire them for my next party…thank you Jan and Rob or Ron..sorry forgot your name!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"He is the Chris Stapleton of Cape Cod. I love when he does Tennessee Whiskey"

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"Yve has a very distinctive voice, and for someone of such small stature, the sound she makes is huge. I first came across Yve at a local festival, and she immediately won me over with her soulful bluesy sound. Since then I have seen her perform both as a solo artist and with a full band, and she never fails to impress. In fact every time you see her, you're reminded of exactly what it is you love about her. Off of the stage she's friendly and approachable and a pleasure to work with. She's easily one of the best female vocals I've heard in quite some time, and I'm glad that I found this jewel in the Norfolk countryside. I can't put into words just how good she is, you'll have to listen for yourself, but I can pretty much guarantee that you won't be disappointed! - Jon Seymour"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Just love this band, Michele sure knows how to pick great musos, and as she is an exceptional dancer, knows exactly what rhythms us dancers desire in a song, follow her all over the Sunshine Coast."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"shes a wonderful lady and fantastic singer and i consider a friend when living in kamloops made many wonderful memories for me during a very difficult time in my life,forever grateful...keep creating that unique and wonderful sound of the soul....take care"

Reply by Cat Wells Blues Band
Thank you for your complimentary words! I'm gonna have to find my way back to the Grotto soon!

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"...it was perfect from A to Z, and your evening entertainment contributed significantly to that. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your dedication..."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review: