Review Centre: Crooners

"Booking Rob for a gig was easy! Rob responded right away and stayed in touch the whole way through. Rob played an awesome set that had the crowd singing along and dancing! Thank you Rob for making our staff retreat a memorable one!"

Reply by Rob McQuaid Entertainment
Thank you so much for the glowing review—I'm thrilled I could bring some musical magic to your business retreat in beautiful Osoyoos! Your group's energy made it unforgettable. Can't wait for the next one. 🎶

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Hi Matthew. Thanks for entertaining us so well at the weekend. You have a fantastic selection of songs. I was amazed at how many I found myself singing along to. I didn't know I knew that many tunes from the 20s and 30s!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"I've had the pleasure of knowing Barry for more than 16 years, and I've experienced his incredible performances at both public and private gatherings. Whether it's a small intimate setting or a grand event, Barry consistently gives his all and delivers an exceptional performance. His level of professionalism, attitude, and dedication as a musician and singer is truly outstanding and worthy of praise. As a fan, I wholeheartedly endorse Barry for any event you may have in mind! Cathlyn Choi Michelson"

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"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Dave Sang at mum's 80th birthday, he was absolutely fantastic and had the most amazing voice. Everyone loved him. Thank you for making mum's day so special."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"She was really sweet, showed up on time. She even saying, and played songs we requested. We were thankful to have live music at our event and she was great."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"You surprised me and my wife at our Wedding recently, and I just wanted to say thank you so much! It was such an amazing surprise!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Currently listening to Sam in the New Eltham social club and got to say loving him!! Thanks for making our night!! Great song choices and great voice!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Hi Luke Many thanks to you we really enjoyed our day and loved your performances as did our guests just what we wanted Happy new year to you Caroline and Dave x"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Steed, I was going to email before you sent yours through just to say that we thought you were excellent at our wedding! A lot of our guests commented on how relaxed and stylish you made the drinks reception, my wife particularly enjoyed your music. I was going to ask if there was somewhere we could write a review for you, as we would definitely recommend you to others thinking of having a Sax player. We are absolutely fine for you to use us as a reference! Once again, thanks for making the day so enjoyable. All the best. Alex."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Barry was unbelievable! When we selected a touch of class for our wedding we knew we were going to get what we wanted, but we did not know that it was going to be 10 times better than we expected! absolutely everyone at the wedding was dancing and having the best time! Our wedding was perfect and Barry had everything to do with that! We gave them a genre of music to play and they accommodated it exactly how we wanted. We had a smaller wedding and they were able to put together the exact size ensemble for the space provided!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Peter and his trio was amazing! They made sure all the songs were discussed beforehand to guarantee and wonderful and lovely evening for all the guests! Highly recommend his band! "

Reply by Peter Tam Jazzy Singer Songwriter
Thank you. Hope we can play for more of your events

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"For our 50th anniversary, we were looking for a stylish, musical jazz band, and this versatile Jazz Quartet more than met our expectations. Communication beforehand was smooth and clear, which immediately provided a sense of reassurance in the lead-up to our event. On the day itself, the band members arrived at the Atomium well in advance, professionally prepared, and well-prepared. Their performance, dressed in their "classy" attire, was atmospheric and musically high-quality, setting the perfect tone for this festive occasion. The music added a 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:

"Thank you so much for everything last night Nicola. Our guests and us loved hearing you guys play. Thank you for your kind words, let us know when you are in London!"

Reply by Nicola Cordisco
Grazie Sophie! I am happy that everything went well! The weather, the location and all your friends and family really made the day become a memorable event and it's been a great pleasure to play for all of you! I will definitely let you know when I will be in London! Ciao for now! Nicola Cordisco

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Bruddah Vince is a talented musician that brought the Hawaiian islands to our event with his delightful presentation. His punctuality and friendliness brought a sense of ease to our event that meshed well with our relaxed ALOHA atmosphere. Our guests (many of them from Hawai’i) throughly enjoyed his sounds, his voice and his music selections. It was a truly a memorable and entertaining experience."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review: