Review Centre: 1950s Era Musicians & Bands

"Sue and I cannot praise you and your wonderful swing band enough. We have organised many prestigious balls and dinner dances over the years and we have hired some of the finest dance bands in the country but we can truly say that Mr Swing’s Dance Orchestra is the best we have ever used. It was absolutely magical, thank you. We are so so overwhelmed with gratitude to you for the evening because you absolutely made it. We would recommend you to anyone in the World; we already have a few people in mind. Comments from the guests included “The best band I have ever heard” and “What a fabulous band!” Not only were the musicians excellent but more importantly they all enjoyed playing which made for a wonderfully warm and welcoming atmosphere. It was a pleasure meeting you Matthew and a privilege to listen to your wonderful band which helped to make the evening very special indeed."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Saxophones, a rhythm section and vocals, swinging like crazy – that’s the aptly named FIVE STAR SWING ! As saxophone section in any band, they would take some beating. Beautiful tones and well-rehearsed by their leader, Chris Smith (Jnr), who has the singular talent of playing the trumpet with his right hand and the piano with his left at one and the same time ! He also happens to be a very experienced music writer having learnt his trade with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra and Glenn Miller’s Brother, Herb. Add to the fact that he can also well handle a vocal, as can his wife, lead alto Simone Smith and tenor man Stephen Davies, who’s clarinet playing on “Sing, Sing, Sing” was superb – and it will give you some idea of the breadth of talent in this line-up. This is a band crying out to be danced to and it wasn’t long before the jivers took to the dance floor. Five Star Swing –a “must” for every dance club in the country."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Absolutely amazing!!! Definitely would recommend. Thank you for performing for my wedding. Xx "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"I would love to keep this band a secret so I can use them for every event we have, but I am also hoping that this review reaches someone who is looking for absolute magic for their own celebration. I would hire them a million times over. They absolutely made our event. Jim was on top of everything from the first conversation. I only wish I had more to hire them for. Spectacular!! 10 stars!!! "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Hitchen Jazz Quintet played at our Jazz Festival in July 2021, doing one of their featured shows 'Hommage aux Trompettistes de Legende. They were magnificent, and covered many styles of Jazz from easy listening ballads to fiery Jazz be-bop. David’s presentation of the show was very entertaining, delivered in fluent French. I highly recommend this group. "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"I booked Easy Covers for an evening members function, from the outset they were contactable and replied to any requests I had, on the evening they were punctual and played three great sets which members were very positive about, it went down really well. I’d thoroughly recommend Eddie and Ziggy and will definitely consider them for any future events. Great service and performance, thanks again "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Thank you, Gradalicious, for being part of an incredibly successful festival – I truly enjoyed your performance. Ed Goudriaan Festival Director"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"The Jazz Kings, consistently deliver exceptional jazz and blues performances that captivate audiences. Their musical prowess, combined with their light-hearted humour, creates an unforgettable and highly entertaining experience. I have personally witnessed The Jazz Kings' ability to engage and mesmerize audiences with their repertoire of standard jazz and blues classics, as well as their unique arrangements and original compositions. Their dedication to preserving the essence of these genres while infusing their artistic interpretations showcases their extraordinary talent and musicianship. Moreover, The Jazz Kings' collaboration with the resident guest vocalist Nicole Parker-Brown adds depth and versatility to their performances. Nicole's stunning vocals seamlessly blend with the band's instrumental prowess, creating a harmonious and captivating musical experience."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Professional, musical addition to our party. The men (in this case) played nice, jazzy background music and had good insight into when they had to stop for a speech, for example. The communication was very pleasant. In short, highly recommended!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Wedding October 14 2023 - University Club - Chicago, IL Hi Ron, I've been meaning to shoot you an email. Thank you guys so much, we had such a wonderful time and were so happy and impressed with the music. With everything going on, there were 2 things about the wedding that made it stand out: the food and the band. Our guests loved the music and it was everything that we could have ever wanted and more. I really meant what I said about how cool it is that you all play this music and hopefully more people my age appreciate the work that you all do. Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you. We visit Chicago pretty often so we'll keep tabs on when you play and will come say hello sometime soon. Hope you have a happy Thanksgiving! -Ryan & Angela"

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:

"I have followed their afternoon gigs religiously. They're a superb band. Great musicians, lively and engage with the audience. I highly recommend them. I was never disappointed with them and I'm sure you won't be. Plus they are lovely guys. Sadly I'm no longer in the country and I miss them and their music. "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"EverClare are not just a band, they are a complete audio-visual experience. They sound & look amazing and are guaranteed to make any party go with a swing. Keep on rockin', guys!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Ruby sang beautifully at my Nanny Whites 90th Birthday tea party. The videos we have of that day will be forever treasured as that was to be her last Birthday. Xx"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Thank you for performing at our event on Saturday, you were a pleasure to work with and your set list and delivery were right on the money. I've had no end of compliments on our choice of performers! We would not hesitate to have you back anytime!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review: