Review Centre: Big Bands

"Absolutely fantastic, from beginning to end. Everyone complimented you and a lot of people thought it was actually a Frank Sinatra CD playing! Very highly recommended. We will have you back for mum’s 90th! "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"“Absolutely perfect! Without drawing attention, you made the evening. Kars and his team provided the music during a large corporate dinner we hosted for our clients. Their presence is never in the foreground, yet it sets a major part of the atmosphere. Thank you, and looking forward to the next collaboration!”"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Giuliano is fantastic, the Italian Sinatra! An exceptional artist accompanied by top-notch musicians. A kind and accommodating person, he made our wedding unforgettable with his music. Simply the best we could have hoped for."

Reply by Giuliano Ligabue
Thank you very much for your kind words Stefanie!!

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Played two sets of excellent Jazz. Was enjoyed by all those in attendance. Would highly recommend to anyone. Superb. Thanks Chris and Sue. "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"I had an incredible experience! I had the opportunity to have Igor and Sergei play the double bass and piano for my proposal, and it couldn’t have been more beautiful. We spoke over Zoom and on the phone to go over the details, and they truly understood my vision. They even checked out some of the songs I wanted to include. They arrived on time and delivered an unforgettable performance. I will definitely hire them again for future events and highly recommend them"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Georg played at our wedding on Saturday 24th May 2025. Overall, he was excellent and everyone attended love the music! Booking via Gig Heaven was easy and Georg was easy to reach and to align on what music we wanted. On the day, we extended the session by a full 1.5 hours as everyone was having a great time! I would fully recommend Georg, he made our evening even more special with his excellent choice of music and quality of play. Thank you Georg!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"As rock lovers, the concert was without a doubt the best part of the party! The guests also really enjoyed it and the atmosphere was spectacular with lots of dancing and moche in the mix. Furthermore, Laura was impeccable when it came to communication and flexibility in choosing songs. I would hire him again for a future party and highly recommend him if you want to have a rock wedding 🤟🏻"

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 Rick Holland and his band played our wedding on August 28, 2010. Rick could not have been more accommodating to my husband and my wants and needs for music at the wedding. We communicated through email, over the phone, and met with each other once to go over the details. Rick was very thorough and always set our minds at ease. During our ceremony, his quartet played us up the aisle with a romantic song and down the aisle with ''Fireworks'' which set the mood for the festive evening to begin. The cocktail hour began immediately following the ceremony and Rick''s band did not miss a beat....the little big band entertained guests while they mingled and got a bite to eat. When the wedding party was ready to be announced, Rick took the microphone as we were all introduced. After the speeches were out of the way, Rick and the band let loose! With a full band and two singers, a male and a female, we partied for the next four hours! The guests were dancing, singing, and truly having a great time as did we! The band definitely made the night! The songs were exactly what we requested and the sound quality was superb. I would gladly book Rick and his band for another occasion as well as recommend them. Thanks again Rick! Erin and Mike Victor, New York"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Excellent young group of Musicians of the highest quality playing to a lower than expected number of guests on a lovely evening. Music was varied and appreciated by those that arrived and enjoyed it with their gin and tonics!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Absolutely the best!! All the guests at the reception commented on the band. I asked them to add a horn section, so we had an eight piece band and their soundman. The soundman went the extra mile and provided sound for the outdoor wedding ceremony also, and during the cocktail hour, some of the band members provided an acoustical set before the reception officially began. My daughter wanted a lot of the Sinatra sound and they delivered. She and her father danced to Sinatra's "Fly Me To The Moon" (George is a corporate pilot) and I will never forget the sight they made as they danced. A memory to hold forever in my heart and the memory definitely has the sound!! You can not go wrong with this band, whatever sound you want. And I think that they actually gave me more than I paid for. Truly marvelous and professional musicians!! My daughter's "do not play" list was basically "nothing cheesy". They were perfect and worth every penny."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Was out for a walk in Kilkenny, heard the rhythmic tones on the street and was just sucked in. What a fantastically talented group."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Rocktonight was absolutely amazing to work with from start to finish. From the very beginning, we were in direct communication with them, and they even coordinated directly with our event planner so we didn’t have to play middleman. Their playlist was extensive and flexible, giving us plenty of great options to choose from. Most importantly, they rocked out on the night of our wedding — bringing incredible energy, sound, and fun that took our celebration to the next level. They added something truly special to our day, and our guests are still raving about them. If you’re looking for a band for your wedding or private event, I can’t recommend Rocktonight enough. Reach out to Laura — she’ll take great care of you!"

Reply by Rocktonight
Thank you so much for your kind words! It was a pleasure!

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Stumbled across the band at the Club House hotel Kilkenny. Absolutely superb. Something different and what a treat to hear a small orchestra live. Definitely going back!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Just the best band I have ever hired. The music just wanted to make me dance all night long. "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We had Igor and Mathew (2 person band - Piano + stand up bass) play during my mother’s 65th birthday celebration at a restaurant with about 80+ guests. I can’t tell you enough how much everyone appreciated and enjoyed their performance and music. They sound so amazing, playing perfectly as the party went on. They played passive jazz with a mix of bossa nova which were a perfect blend for our theme and guests. Igor and his band were very professional, on time, flexible, and very patient with our loud and crowded guests. He is easy to communicate with and is very transparent and clear. Music wise, I couldn’t believe we were able to have this band play for us as they were nothing short from perfect. Amazing people"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review: