Review Centre: 1920s Era Musicians & Bands

"The Colleyville Police Department would like to thank Just Jazz for providing such outstanding musical entertainment at our 2024 Police Department Awards Banquet. Your music made a huge difference in the ceremony and there were many positive comments about the music. Please extend our appreciation to all of your musicians! It goes without saying your music helped make this year's event very special for everyone in attendance."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"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"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"My daughter turned 18 and I turned 60. That had to be celebrated! We already had a beautiful location in the city centre of Leiden at the Hooglandse Kerk, the Branderij. We were expecting our good friends, family and colleagues. Now all we needed was music: I had already heard Eline. Her voice complemented by the musicians Nick, Han and Mark: the evening could not have been better. The reaction of all our guests was the same: perfect music. At the first session a few legs were lifted off the floor. At the last session the dance floor was full."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"An unbelievable addition to our Christmas party at the Royal Opera house"

Reply by Flash Mob Jazz
Amazing gig in one of the worlds best venues. Thank you Google

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Before seeing this show I had heard many rumours about Harmonica Lewinsky, whose background was shrouded in mystery, although I believe he learned his harmonica skills in the Deep South in the deltas of Harrow on the Hill under the tutelage of Blind Les Battersby. But, it was a very different character to the one I expected who performed at the posh Victoria pub in Highgate! Mr Lewinsky, looking like a cross between a rabbi and one-half of Chas 'n Dave (I'm not sure which half) appeared in cloth cap and braces and presented a highly original selection of songs, some of which rarely see the light of day. There were no predictable “Brown Eyed Girls” or “Mustang Sally’s” here: instead - a veritable feast of the unexpected - as we witnessed one man, his guitar and his trusty harps. When was the last time you heard a pub act kick off his set with Chas 'n Dave's “The Sideboard Song” and follow it with the Theme to “Top Cat” and then offerings of cheery, chirpy Cockney ditties including “Waiting At The Church,” “Maybe It's Because I'm A Londoner”, “Show Me The Way To Go Home” and Tommy Steele's “What A Mouth”? I’m guessing the answer to that question is ‘rarely’ (if ever) but the fun didn't stop there. Mr Harmonica Man is a really great entertainer and demonstrated, with great finesse, his harmonica technique on - wait for it - the Shadows' “Apache”! It was quite a feat playing the melody on the harp while strumming his guitar. ‘Harmy’, as he is known to his close friends (or 'Self-Harmy‘ to others) also tackled in the first half the theme to "The Flintstones"; Elvis Costello's catchy “Watching The Detectives” and the Cockney knees-up “I've Got A Lovely Bunch Of Coconuts”. Harmy was back in terrific Pearly King form for the second half starting with “Any Old Iron” followed by a touch of the Formbys with “Leaning On A Lamppost” after which he did a ‘Donegan’ with a riotous version of “My Old Man's A Dustman” complete with enthusiastic audience participation. Mr Lewinsky has a great sense of humour, which he constantly shares with the Victoria regulars. "Here's another Cockney classic sung by a Welsh man", quipped Harmy before diving into “Delilah.” Other gems included the theme tune to ‘Match Of The Day’ (played on two harmonicas); a very funny and risque interpretation of Mike Jerome's “Sling Yer Hook”; a great version of the Small Faces' mod anthem “Lazy Sunday”; and a yahoo rendition of the old country favourite “Riders In The Sky”. After many encores Mr Lewinsky packed away his cap and braces and headed off to the Deep South (of London) for some pie and mash. The Victoria would do well to snap up Harmy for some more gigs before he hop-foots it down the Strand for a residency at the Old Bull and Bush!"

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:

"Top! This is the group you should hire if you want to make a difference when it comes to music at your event."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"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:

"Outstanding performance, VERY enjoyable! Highly accomplished musicians, and great guys, too. We will definitely be booking them again. You hear echoes of Joe Pass, Dizzy Gillespie, and Ron Carter."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We hired a vinyl DJ for our party. We were very pleased with it. He brought exactly the music we like. He added a touch of ambiance with background music and lighting, and it was a definite success. Everyone could still chat happily without being drowned out by the music. But if anyone had wanted to dance, I certainly could have. We were very pleased!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We hired Good Co to play at our home for a company party of 50 guests. They were on time, polite, fun and every one had a wonderful time. They paid attention to the wants of the crowd and catered to their likes. They were by far the highlight of our party. Next time we have a bigger party we'll hire the whole band (we only hired 3 band members due to the small crowd). Book this band - they are a sure bet from a small house party to a huge soiree."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Professional, reliable and an amazing addition to our event. I would book Scott again."

Reply by World Renowned Saxophonist
You are very kind! Hopefully we can work together again in the future!

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"I am delighted to recommend Vincent Cassotta of Enfield CT in pursuit of his grant application for the Louis Armstrong Tribute with a Jazz Quartet performing at the Eli Whitney Elementary School. My previous role as the PK-12 Music Coordinator for the Enfield Public School District has brought me in direct contact with the professional, innovative, creative, and artistic musician and retired teacher Mr. Vincent Cassotta. I have witnessed first-hand the impact and quality of his quality music instruction provided for his thirty-nine years of teaching tenure in our community. To have the opportunity to bring the genre of American Jazz Music as a tribute to the legend of Louis Armstrong with quality professional musicians under Mr. Cassotta’s organization is a blessing to the young minds and ears of our elementary students, especially at a time when music education in Enfield offers less opportunities. This past Spring I had the opportunity to guest speak at Mr. Cassotta’s retirement party celebrating his many years of service in music education. In that speech I spoke about multiple areas beyond the collegial and professional relationship Mr. Cassotta, and I achieved since 1999. These in my opinion provide strong evidence for the Enfield Cultural Council to support this mission of this application fiscally. One of the points shared was that Mr. Cassotta balanced his career of music education and professional trumpet performing with incredible success throughout his career. Aside from the technical, logistical and time management responsibilities from such an endeavor, he achieved this success with never letting go of the care demonstrated to his students, family members, school building staff, and his music professional colleagues. The fact that he desires to continue to expand the music opportunities to students in Enfield now in his retirement resting years is evidence of his dedication to this art form and willingness to always educate. Furthermore Mr. Cassotta’s wealth of experience professionally as a performing musician and student of the trumpet is stellar. In his education Mr. Cassotta studied trumpet with Rolf Smedvig of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Empire Brass Quintet, Jimm Maxwell a NYC Studio Musician, Roger Murtha of the Hartford Symphony and Hartt School of Music, and Dan Patrylak of the Eastman Brass Quintet and UCONN. To continue, Mr. Cassotta was a freelance performer with Frank Sinatra, Manhattan Transfer, Ella Fitzgerald, Bobby Vinton, Bob Hope, The Four Tops, Phil Woods, The Temptations, Sammy Davis Jr., Andy Williams, Franki Valli and the Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. Including numerous local and state pit orchestra’s and local well know jazz bands. He has also published works as a composer and arranger with KJOS music as well as multiple professional recordings. I strongly urge you to consider Mr. Cassotta’s application for this grant. Your support will help impact music education in Enfield and continue to make a meaningful impact on the lives of its students. Thank you for considering this recommendation. Sincerely, Mark F. Reppucci Jazz, Orchestra, Music Technology and Piano Teacher Enfield High School Write your tex"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We just wanted to get in touch again to thank you guys for the wonderful show you put on for our wedding on Saturday night! Everyone had such a great time, and absolutely loved your performance. You were a real highlight and we can't thank you enough."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Purple llamas performed a brilliant turn at The Surrey Steampunk Convivial. Even when their 30 minute set followed an exciting and vibrant band, they managed by hook or by crook to get absolutely everyone on their feet and dancing; Fantastic value, great fun - and we’d love to have them back again and again!"

Reply by Purple Llamas
Wonderful playing at any of Ben's events, where we get treated well and the sound is excellent. looking forward to the next one!

Rating: 9 / 10 Share this review: