Review Centre: Swing Bands

"Wow, what a show! You have a great voice and all of your musicians were just fabulous. The music was smart, fun and sophisticated – again, just what we wanted, and such a pleasure to dance to a band who really know how to play!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"James Anthony was amazing when he performed for the United States Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. He arrived early to rehearse with a 20 piece group of musicians and was a huge hit. The Congress Members and Senators were asking where I found him and we at the Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce absolutely recommend him. Due to popular demand, we brought him back the next year to perform for the US Senate for their annual gala."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Thanks Barry for making my daughters wedding so special. I can’t tell you how many compliments I received about your music, your abilities, and the way you managed the crowd. I have attached the picture of you, Andy, and Sarah. Feel free to include Sarah and Andy or myself as a reference. "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Met our expectations 100%. Smooth, jazzy and charming. Loved the saxophone. "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Thank you all so much. You were great and really added to our day. We wanted an authentic vintage jazz band for our wedding and Dr Jazz were perfect. You got everyone singing along to all the classics. The management at our venue said you were the best band they’d ever had. Really made our day go with a swing."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"D'Aiello has a highly dramatic manner of playing and a willingness to take risks which can make it seem as if he is overstretching himself; thus when he launched into Ellington's In a Sentimental Mood in the second set he placed himself on the critical block. The result was a breathtaking performance in which he displayed a stunning range of expression, infallible control over the instrument and a true feeling for the melody itself. He is a restless attacking player who uses not only the full, extended, range of the instrument but also a much wider dynamic variety than many other saxophonists. Linked with a technique that allows him to play at scorching speed and accuracy, the result was jazz of outstanding colour and excitement....."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"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"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Stefano was planed to show up as a surprise performance for the newly weds, and they sure got surprised. He showed up in good time, to be sure, that the timing of his surprise was in order and he made everyone laugh and sing along. Thank you for a good time and dance."

Reply by The Roaming Accordion – Italian Live Music
Dearest Yasmine, it was a real pleasure meeting you and sharing my music with you on the most important day for the newlyweds, for you, their friends, and for their wonderful families! Best regards from Italy! Stefano

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

" All Music Review Thom Jurek The title of this set is an apt one. While much of the music presented by the Rick Holland-Evan Dobbins Little Big Band, it hearkens back -- in terms of its sophistication, confidence and outright jazz literacy, not nostalgically -- to an era when progressive jazz, and big bands (this one numbering 10 pieces) flourished on the scene. This is one sophisticated outfit. Featuring the arrangement and compositional skills of Brent Wallarab, Jim Martin, Bill Dobbins and Kerry Strayer, this band struts out the tradition and make some joyous, complex, and elegant music that reflects its own unique identity. The résumés of all these players are impressive and reflected in the confidence of the date. It opens with "SUNY-Triangle," a Martin composition that works its artful sleight-of-hand over Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Triste." Martin uses the rhythmically complex samba and drapes some tough, knotty twists and turns over it. The intro is a beautiful and raucous wake-up call, while the head of the tune, with its staggered entrances and exits -- including some fine soloing by John Viavattine on tenor and John Nyerges on piano -- give this tune a unique identity. "Creature Comfort" is a beautiful mid-tempo ballad by Wallarab with edgeless yet multi-dimensional dissonances written into its harmonics. It swings beautifully and includes a fine, punchy solo by tenorman Glenn Cashman. Besides the originals, there are some fine readings here as well. There's Wallarab's arrangement of Duke Ellington's "Black and Tan Fantasy" that's a thoroughly modern exercise losing none of Ellington's humor or rhythmic complexity. Likewise, Gerry Mulligan's haunting, wee-hours, "Night Lights," is given expert treatment here by Strayer, and Dean Keller's baritone saxophone playing combines Mulligan's sense of lyric and Ben Webster's sense of time. In Time's Shadow reveals that innovation need not sacrifice accessibility or swing. It is convincing evidence that the big band form is alive, well and full of surprises."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"‘Chris sang for us last night at our Italian Night, He was fantastic with his selection of swing music he certainly made the evening go well, everyone said how brilliant he was. I would recommend him and we will be having him back for future events. Thanks Chris.’ "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"A fantastic, very reliable and absolutely professional musician, and as an added bonus: incredibly friendly! Highly recommended. Background: The occasion was a wedding with approximately 100 guests in Berlin." German: „Fantastische, sehr zuverlässige und absolut professionelle Musikerin, als Bonbon noch dazu: unglaublich sympathisch! Absolute Empfehlung. Zum Hintergrund: Anlass war eine Hochzeit mit ca. 100 Personen in Berlin."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Made my birthday extra special! This Band really played well together and sounded great! They played all of the pieces I had requested earlier, arrived on time and guests commented how much they'd enjoyed the sets. Wouldn't hesitate to book this band again ..."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"I hired Lina Peters and Simona to provide the music for my 60th birthday party. I can't praise them enough! They got all the guests in the mood with their harmonious background music right from the champagne reception. The cruise on Lake Wannsee wouldn't have been nearly as enjoyable without their musical accompaniment, and in the evening, they had the entire party rocking. Always friendly, perfectly dressed for the occasion, and—last but not least—beautiful saxophone music! The coordination was also fantastic, and Lina even organized a great DJ. 6 out of 5 stars from me! German: Ich habe Lina Peters zusammen mit Simona zur musikalischen Begleitung meines Freundesfest anlässlich meines 60. Geburtstags engagiert. Ich kann nicht anders als in den höchsten Tönen schwärmen!!! Schon beim Champagner-Empfang brachten sie alle Gäste mit harmonischer Begleitmusik in Stimmung, die Cruise über den Wannsee wäre ohne ihre musikalische Untermalung nur haöb schön gewesen und Abends brachten sie die gesamte Festgesellschaft zum rocken. Immer sympathisch, perfekt zum Anlass gekleidet und - last but not least - wunderschöne Saxofonmusik! Die Abstimmung hat auch wunderbar geklappt, und Lina hat sogar noch eine tolle DJane organisiert. 6 von 5 Sternen von mir!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Hi Martin, We just wanted to say a huge thank you for your wonderful singing on our wedding day. You did an amazing job and are very talented at what you do. We are so glad we chose you for our wedding as everyone of all ages was up dancing and having a great time! And all the little extras that you did like MC and background music for the cake was so lovely. Our guests were talking about how good you were for days after the wedding! Thank you so much for making our day so special! And a massive thank you to Sonya for recommending you! All the best Rebecca & Gavin (Dublin)"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"An unforgettable and polished musical experience. 100/10"

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