Review Centre: 1950s Era Musicians & Bands

"Thank you so much for opening up Macmillan Mayhem 2023 for us. Your support really is appreciated. You guys were absolutely amazing. A lot of people were talking about you all day. We will certainly be looking out for your future gigs. You really got the party started (your words lol) Thanks again 💚😊"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We called in the Jazz center to provide entertainment during our anniversary celebration. The contact started very pleasantly and the wishes were listened to carefully. Our event was business and also intended for networking. The musicians of the Jazz center looked neat and played nice background music. This contact was again very pleasant. It was great entertainment for our guests to talk about it or just enjoy it. Definitely recommended!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Mellowtone jazz were fantastic! We hired them to play at our corporate event. Chris and the team were very accommodating of our needs - nothing was too much trouble. The jazz trio played a great repertoire of all the jazz classics and they made our event that extra bit special! I wouldn't hesitate to recommend and we would certainly use them again for another event in the future. "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

" Wow! That's awesome. You guys really did a great job on that one!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We had a fantastic night when Anna sang at our club. Fabulous singer, entertainer and all rounder. I have also gone to her local gigs and she never fails to impress. Brilliant, absolutely Brilliant. If you want a night to remember she is the girl for you. "

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"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Great guitar harmonica vocals and all round good guy. Have seen him play on numerous occasions and always sounds fresh and great on stage"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"This was my first ever swing band concert and what can I say – it was fantastic – I didn’t realise how good they were! What a great evening. We travelled in ice, snow, high heels and dresses and it was very worth it. Fabulous music and excellent entertainment. It really started off my Christmas. Can’t wait for next year."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"These guys werea recommendation to us from a family member who had them for a wedding. As I always like to use a recommendation we were comfortable in booking, I was surprised at the degree of time they took to understand what we wanted from the evening, the detail they looked at was amazing. In the end, it all paid off as the evening went like a dream, they absolutely over delivered against expectations and have certainly raised the bar for what I shall expect with regards to an entertainment package. They played anything we asked, nothing was too much trouble and my Mum who’s surprise 80th birthday party it was, is still ecstatic days later! I have also done you a video testimomial…feel free to use it how you want to Beverly Hopper (80th Birthday Party) 10/10 "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Thank you so much for playing at my wedding - it made the day very special."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"The evening was enchanting, and the performance with the choice of songs was the perfect setting."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Jukebox Rock is a fabulous band playing a great assortment of songs. danced all night last Friday night on a packed dance floor. they really know how to get people up rockin."

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:

"Miss Pearl was a huge hit at our Jubilee afternoon tea (Age UK Carlisle & Eden) Happy faces all round, singing and dancing in the aisles. Miss Pearl sang songs through the decades so something for everyone. We will definitely be booking her again for future events. Excellent, Thank You"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"A special memory that will be talked about for years. This will be the family Thanksgiving gathering that will be talked about for years. The children and adults all had a wonderful time from Victoria starting us off with her beautiful violin playing to Mario's magic and escape performances. Mario was very funny and held the attention of everyone in the room. The children and adults were able to participate in some of the acts which made the show extra special. I would recommend further bookings for Mario. Rating: Reviewer: Sabrina Haines Event Date: November 19th, 2024 Services Provided: Comedy Magician, Escape Artist, Strolling/Close-up Magician Elvis Tribute Artist & Victoria Violinist"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review: