Review Centre: Brazilian Entertainment

"Rory was polite, friendly and played wonderfully. The music set the tone for the party perfectly."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Felipe was nothing short of Amazing. Not only an incredibly nice guy but also a very talented musician. Everyone loved his vibe and the music made the event all the more special. A huge thanks to Felipe!!!"

Reply by Felipe Fontenelle
Thank you :) Felipe Fontenelle

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"I booked a saxophonist for my husbands 40th for 20 people. Rory was very friendly and talented. He played really well and the music was great and perfect for the occasion. Everyone enjoyed the music including the neighbours! Also great service and easy to book. Thank you Rory."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We hired Rory at very short notice to perform at my Mothers Birthday Breakfast. The team were incredibly efficient and had our booking secure within a day. Rory arrived perfectly on time and set up quickly and independently. He played the saxophone beautifully and took note of our requests which really made the moment very special for us. Rory was incredibly professional and we look forward to hearing him play for us again soon."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Non avremmo potuto desiderare di meglio per il nostro matrimonio! Domenico e Valentina, insieme alla loro band, sono stati la colonna sonora perfetta per il nostro giorno speciale. La loro bravura e la capacità di coinvolgere gli invitati sono state eccezionali. Hanno creato un'atmosfera di festa incredibile, facendo divertire tutti dal primo all'ultimo minuto e facendo ballare anche i più timidi! Li raccomandiamo vivamente a chiunque voglia un matrimonio non banale, all'insegna del divertimento e della buona musica"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Kulturhuset Bølgen in Ålsgårde is a rare combination of concert hall and restaurant. Hornbæk Jazzklub hosts their events here every first Friday of the month. There is room for more than 100 diners, who take their seats an hour and a half before the music begins. When the musicians take the stage, the lights in the hall are dimmed and the tables retract, and the place becomes a concert hall, where the audience does not have to move, but can remain in their good seats at the tables. The bar is silent when the music is playing, but during the break it wakes up to action, like another Holger Danske, and rattles, not with the saber, but with glasses, bottles, coffee and cake. The audience mingles both with each other and with the musicians, and a temporary close and beautiful community emerges. It was the same good atmosphere that prevailed among the musicians when Jesper Hedegaard presented his Sound of Brasil at Bølgen on Friday. The Brazilian Samba has many ramifications, and each rhythm has its own life and its own name. Jesper Hedegaard knows a lot about that, having lived in Brazil for many years. He came there in 1976 and made friends who he took with him to Denmark. Some still live here, others have returned home and new ones have joined. On Friday it was bassist Sidiel Vieira and drummer Celso de Almeida. When they play it looks playful, but that's only because they are masters of their instruments. The music flows from them, like a tsunami, whose enormous power is not noticed until it meets resistance. On Friday, there was no opposition for Jesper Hedegaard can his sambas and the evening's soloist was world class. It was Alexander Kraglund who, without a single note, played the most terrific Brazilian violin and viola with countless small shifts in the rhythmic and surprising harmony changes in the melodic, which is an essential detail of the music. Alexander Kraglund mostly played the viola and the deep timbre blended beautifully with Jesper Hedegaard's piano playing, which mostly took place in the high register. The bassist played counterrhythm and very little walking bass as in jazz. He played merrily with the already dancing rhythms in moody counterplay and he could frolic freely thanks to the fact that the drummer provided a non-slip surface for the music. The evening's many different pieces of music were a mixture of Jesper Hedegaard's own compositions and the bossa nova that Antonio Carlos Jobim started in the early 60s with A Girl From Ipanema. One is to play the violin, another is to play the harmonica, and Alexander Kraglund used this instrument in about half of the pieces. In his violin playing, there were almost no references to Svend Asmussen, which is surprising. In the harmonica playing there was great inspiration from Toots Thielemans. Jesper Hedegaard may not be the world's best-known pianist, but by thinking of another pianist, namely Chick Corea (who plays at Kulturværftet at the end of April), and some of his samba-inspired compositions such as La Fiesta and Amando's Rhumba, you get a sense of the music that was played at Bølgen on Friday. The fact that Bølgen's own sound man, Casper Skovgaard, also knows which buttons to touch and not to touch is the extra quality that Bølgen has and that many other venues can only dream of."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"When planning my daughter's wedding, which was always destined to be a multicultural blend of music genres, styles, and rhythmic offerings, I was set on finding that flair to entertain our guests with a little taste of their own familiar music and I happened upon the One Man Steel Drum Band on a popular gig website. With the union of the kids spanning the globe and including West Indian, Latin, and Russian culture, this was a perfect choice! Upon establishing contact with John Skoczen, I realized very quickly that he would be an effective and professional communicator who cared not only about his role in our event but also the appeal of such things as attire, the set list, any particular requests related to the guests, and the full gamut of helping us to make our event delightful. John consistently maintained contact with me regarding updates, directions, and special elements. No portions of our interactions were confusing for me. He was so patient and understanding upon arriving at the venue whereas I was as a scattered and frazzled mother of the bride and coordinator. He quickly became like family, AND his talent is out of this world! I will definitely be booking John again for a future occasion. Allie B. Texas Wedding - Memorial Day 2019"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Amazing singer with a wonderful voice ! I fully Recommend her work ! Loved !"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"I have hired John Anthony Ferrer to entertain my sorority reunion guests at the Bean Runner Cafe. Is amazing guitar playing as well as classic songs and popular pop tunes. John's hand the guitar really comes alive as well as the songs he plays. John is a real Rock Star, playing tunes from the Jazz era and then switching to the Pop songs of the last few decades. Then playing Blues before going into some romantic Bossa Nova. I also hired him to host and play guitar for 2022 New York Miss Teen pageant contestants. It wasn't long before he had the beautiful young ladies dancing and singing to the songs he played. A highlight to their busy schedule. To sum it up, John Anthony Ferrer's guitar wizardry will amaze you."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Jesper Hedegaard is almost more Brazilian than Danish. Since 1976, he has devoted his life to Brazilian music, has grown together with the part of it that builds a bridge to jazz. He is a well-known and treasured musician in Brazil and a tireless communicator of the rich Brazilian music in Denmark without, moreover, making a bigger being out of himself. It's the music - that's what it's all about. This is clearly reflected on his latest CD, a modest affair of just over half an hour. The beautiful trio playing with drummer Magno Bissoli and bassist Sidiel Vieira shows Hedegaard at home in the rich borderland between Brazilian and jazz. Apart from two of his own compositions, Jesper Hedegaard plays with a trio of compositions by Lúcio Alves, Ary Barroso, Tom Jobim, Bruno Martino and Bruno Brighetti. Beautiful and endearing with a restraint that helps build tension that sharpens attention. During the apparently effortless, elegantly swinging playing, a dialogue unfolds between the three musicians, which sharpens the desire for more than the record's 33 minutes. However, Bissoli is sometimes so discreet in his playing that he almost disappears. A pity, because here one of Brazil's best and most generous musicians could give the music more edge. It's a trio with great potential. Hopefully the three of them will continue together and make an announcement soon."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We had a wonderful time at Hampton Court House and the sound of your music floating out of that conservatory into the sunny courtyard as we launched into our celebrations is one of my happiest moments. Will certainly be in contact again if we have another special occasion as would love to hear you play again. ________"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Great having you Rory. Everybody loved your band and the party - I am still recovering... Please send my thanks to Harry and Ines too - You all did a fantastic job!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"I really enjoyed your playing and your set."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Afrobossa, new style of music: Amazing fusion between Bossa Nova and African Music."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Rory, you absolutely made it! You exceeded everyones expectations, especially mine. Thank you so very very much."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review: