Review Centre: Musical Acts

"These guys were amazing. Well worth every penny. We were unsure whether people would be dancing enough as we only had a wedding of 30. EVERYBODY was dancing and all our guests said how much they enjoyed the band. The dance floor was full and the repertoire of songs was fantastic. Guty and Simone even learnt a special song so that I could sing a song to my husband and, although we did not rehearse it together, they were perfect. They did so much more than we expected and even helped us at the end of the night ordering taxis. These guys will not let you down. Thank you so much for rocking the place and for making our wedding so much fun!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"She is very good and friendly, I would use her again for my future activaitons and events."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Matt played at our wedding back in August and was incredible. He set the perfect mood for everyone to celebrate and get to know one another. His song choices were perfect for our guests and he played into the wedding breakfast which meant we were able to enjoy him whilst dining. I couldn’t recommend Matt enough for anyone look for an acoustic singer for any occasion really but he’s something very special for a wedding. Thanks so much Matt. Siobhan and Adam x "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Brian Bender was great! We were looking for Irish music for our cocktail hour and a DJ for after dinner. Brian was able to provide both of those things! He put together a three piece Irish band and then he DJed the rest of the night. He was great and everyone danced the night away! We ended up having him stay an extra hour because everyone was having so much fun! Highly recommended "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We hired Eva for a wedding dinner to entertain our guests with some romantic music, and that's exactly what we got! Professional work and beautiful sound as well as a pretty appearance was the perfect combination and exactly what we wanted! We would definitely reccomend her"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"They did the live music for our wedding. It was perfect!!! A dream came true. Thank you soo much"

Reply by violinist/duojig violin cello
Thank you

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Charlie Jennison's debut album for Maine's Invisible Music Records is a smooth piece of work. "Smooth" not in the sense of the saccharine stuff served up by contemporary jazz players, but smooth as in classy unpretentiousness in the playing. Jennison is an alumnus of the Do'ah Wild Music Ensemble, a New Hampshire group which recorded for Global Pacific label. He has since gravitated to jazz having recorded with singers Kathleen Kolman and Leila Percy, among others. Jennison has also worked with Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry and Buddy DeFranco and is on the faculty of New Hampshire's Phillips Exeter Academy. Forsaking standard material for his first album, the play list is made up of ten Jennison originals all in various tempi and style, but which start getting repetitious along the way as ideas get thin. Some of the better pieces include "To You, From Me" which features Jennison on alto with some exciting drum breaks by Ken Clark. Another piece spotlighting Jennison's alto, which sounds like Phil Woods when Woods is in a mellow mood, is the lovely ballad "Georgie," with "My Anne" rivaling "Georgie" for sheer musical attractiveness. The tenor takes over on "Watch Your Step" with Jennison showing some incredible dexterity with daring fingering technique. There's a nice blues with a funky piano solo by Jim Butka and good bass strumming from John Hunter on "Amanda's Blues." Jennison brings out his soprano on "Rain in My Coffee" which has a light Latin beat with more good piano from Jim Butka. But virtually all tunes on this session take the same course. There's an introduction establishing the basic melody structure, followed by some technically compelling fingering after which there's a return to the melody. No matter how good the instrumentalist is —and Jennison is very good—unless the original material is superior, it's not going to hold one's attention for a whole sitting. And that is the case here. I have heard Jennison on other albums and he handles standard stuff very well. It would have behooved him to have put a couple of those on this CD. This would have strengthened the credibility of the original material."

Reply by Charlie Jennison Quartet
I appreciate Dave Nathan's willingness to review my flagship release and also recognize his candor in suggesting that the original material I wrote could have been strengthened by including some standard tunes as well. I would like to note that, in more than one instance, I used the framework of a jazz standard as the foundation for a new composition. For example, on the track, "To You, From Me," I employed the chord progression to Cole Porter's "You Do Something To Me." My tune, "Amanda's Blues" is also just a variation of a standard minor blues. With a lifetime of experience playing, I now recognize his observation of "virtually all tunes on this session take the same course," to be spot on. This was, after all, my first (and only) excursion into the realm of recorded jazz, and as a young player, I still had a lot to learn about crafting the presentation of material in a more interesting way. Now that I am getting close to 80 years old, I have decided to create another album of original material with the same players, kind of like a bookend to wrap up a successful career teaching and playing (although not recording). Look for a release sometime in 2026!

Rating: 8 / 10 Share this review:

"I have had the honour and pleasure of having Chris & Alkka perform at many bars I have run for over a decade. They are extremely professional and always perform to the audience. They are a unique duo and are absolutely fantastic. I can personally recommend Chris & Alkka and will always look forward to seeing them perform. In three words AWESOME, PROFESSIONAL, AMAZING! "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Mambo Jamboree were excellent and helped make the evening of our wedding day very special indeed. Everybody enjoyed their music. They were punctual, very friendly and they sound fantastic. I would definitely recommend them to others. Tina and Tom Clark. (Wedding) (10 / 10)"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Oak & Brass gave the party a great atmosphere, with their great voices and fantastic guitar playing. Their song choice for the evening was spot on, with some real classics mixed with the modern, many of which became great sing alongs. I would highly recommend Oak & Brass and would have no hesitation in rebooking him in the future. Thanks again Oak & Brass! "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"An exceptional team to work with. The Aday2Remember package delivered stunning photography and a perfectly curated entertainment experience, keeping our guests on the dance floor all night with outstanding music and lighting. Everything was handled seamlessly and with great attention to detail, allowing us to enjoy the day without any concerns. We would highly recommend their services without hesitation. F & D"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Michael is an excellent musician and made my sister’s bridal shower extra special. He played a variety of songs that we had requested including one that he learned specifically for our event. He answered all questions in a timely manner and arrived promptly to our venue. His repertoire ranges from classical to modern pieces and we highly recommend him for any event! An absolute joy to listen to. Thank you Michael!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Ian was a fantastic addition to our wedding and we’d highly recommend him. Our wedding was held at the Mar Bella restaurant in Nerja with approx 60 guests. Ian was great at warming up the guests during the reception — so much so we were up dancing between the starter and main courses. Tambourine playing and duelling guitars followed which were great fun. He is extremely talented as a singer and was a fantastic DJ. Ian is very professional and easy to communicate with which helped the day run smoothly and created some fantastic memories for us. Thanks Ian."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Our wedding guests raved about the food, and the reggae band was the highlight of the night. Couldn’t have asked for more."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"I highly recommend Andy! He has done parties for 2 of my children and they have thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Fantastic entertainment and he managed to keep the children's attention the entire time. All the children at the party had a great time."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review: