Review Centre: Musical Acts

"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:

"DJ Saxy is the BEST! Every time I hear him he never disappoints the crowd! Great variety of songs. "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Rebecca was amazing at our Civil Partnership yesterday when she stepped in to perform at the very last minute. A beautiful player and a warm and lovely personality. Cannot recommend her enough. 12 out of 10. "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"You were just what we needed at Mallory Court - thank you so much."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Arie van der Zouwen 2 months ago Thank you very much. Great performers, great musicians, great singer! This is one of the reasons I want to learn Greek. I go to evening school to learn it. Not easy, but nice to do! Greetings from Holland. sonia karagiannidou 2 months ago Πολύ όμορφο! Σας απόλαυσα! ❤️ Babbis Lazaroglou 2 months ago Μπράβο , εξαιρετικό. Συγχαρητήρια σε όλους σας. Chrisanthi Zarari 2 months ago Πανέμορφο!! ??? Βασίλης Χατζηπαναγιώτου 2 months ago Τέλειο!!!!! "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Rafael was amazing in our family party. My mother was in tears of emotion when he arrived playing her favorite song "How deep is your love" from Bee Gees. Will call him when I need again."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Matt is an exceptional musician- his aptitude for engaging an audience is quite unique. Having attended a number of his events over the past few years, it still surprises me how he can get a whole room singing along in harmony! If you’re looking for a charismatic performer with an extensive & really fun collection of songs, I would say ‘look no further!’"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We cannot say how much we appreciate and enjoyed having both Alfie and Valentina at our wedding on the 19/08/23. At Il Casale Denari. The music choices were arranged in advance without any issue and on the day they pulled it off seamlessly!!! Arrghhh it was the best day ever and having live music at the crucial points of the day made it all the more perfect. They were brilliant"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Thank you so much, what a fantastic job! It was a perfect entrance for the guests"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Thank you for singing me down the aisle on our wedding day acaapella. It made the perfect touch. Robert Burns would have loved it too. Absolutely everything from the booking right down to our conversations when ever I needed. Thank you for all of it, you made it beautifully easy."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Ο Μπάμπης είναι ένας εξαιρετικός επαγγελματίας και καλλιτέχνης. Συνόδευσε με το σαξόφωνο του τη βάφτιση του γιου μου. Πολύ όμορφες μελωδίες, κάποιες δικές μου επιλογές, κάποιες δικές του. Ήταν μια πολύ ιδιαίτερη πινελιά που ενθουσίασε μικρούς και μεγάλους. Άφησε τις καλύτερες εντυπώσεις σε εμάς αλλά και σε όλους τους καλεσμένους και βέβαια τον προτείνουμε ανεπιφύλακτα."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Anton made our Christening lunch for my Grand-Daughter, very special, all 30 people who joined us for the lunch said how much they enjoyed the music and when we made request, Anton was happy to oblige. I would book Anton again for future family/friends celebrations. "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Blue Moon Jazz trio were absolutely amazing! I am so grateful I found them all the way from Australia to play at our Tuscany wedding. Raphael was a dream to communicate with leading up to the day, always easy going and professional. I always wanted a jazz band for my wedding and I truly thought it would be more like background music that not many people would pay attention too – however, Blue Moon were prominent in the best possible way. It was charming, romantic, fun and set the scene better than I could have ever imagined. I will never forget the sun setting to my right through the tuscan trees and then seeing the band to my left playing so elegantly in the sunset. It really was a dream come true. 10/10 would recommend over and over again. Chrystal"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Just wanted to say again how much I appreciated your beautiful playing on Saturday. It was fantastic and really suited the mood. Lots of people commented to me how much they had enjoyed it. I will hear the Bach Prelude in my head for a long time to come when I think of the ceremony. Thankyou. All the best, Nat "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"The best band we have seen at the friendly fox ever! Thank you guys, made our night a great one!!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review: