Review Centre: 1940s Era Musicians & Bands

"I love jazz but many of my party guests were not so keen. After Vibrant Jazz entertained us for a brilliant evening I have had so many comments about how good they were and how much they enjoyed the music. Many thanks for helping the night go with a swing!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Fleur Stevenston is a wonderful musician and really made my event a memorable one. She was organised, timely and quick to respond to any correspondence. I highly recommend her for any event."

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:

"A beautiful sunny April day to celebrate our Daughters birthday Great food, great wine, great company! Could it be any better? We thought not until Cara Bo broke into song and over the next couple of hours she made a great day a PERFECT day!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Fantastic musicians who set the perfect vibe! We booked a pianist, saxophonist, and double bassist through Jazz Centrale for a networking reception. Their smooth jazz in the background created a relaxed, enjoyable atmosphere, making the evening a complete success."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Spectacular musicians! They were perfect for my wedding reception! I'd recommend them to anyone! Event Date: May 10th, 2015 Services Provided: Jazz Band"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"The Crotchet Club were the perfect addition to our work Christmas party. They were so professional and polite to deal with too which made the booking and organisation processes completely stress free. I will definitely consider them again for future events!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Wonderful to hear live jazz from a group of young, spontaneous and polished performers. Great rapport between the players and with the audience. Loved the energetic and stylish scat singing and instrumental solos, and it’s doubly great to have been in the audience of a live recording."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"It’s quite possible to stroll right past the place while navigating West Kinzie Street, just a wee bit north of the Chicago River, and not even realize it. The only concrete clue that you’ve arrived at your destination is the sight of a black canvas entrance emblazoned with the curious moniker of the joint. It’s called Untitled, and that handle is purposely nondescript, only adding to the overall mystique of the nightspot. Head down a short flight of stairs, say hello to the doorman (there’s no cover), and you’ll find that Untitled offers a welcoming hideaway from the hustle and bustle of the Loop, which sits only a few blocks south on the other side of the river. During the Prohibition era, speakeasies dotted the Windy City landscape where those so inclined could quaff an alcoholic libation or two while securely hidden away from the long arm of the law. But those long-ago speaks were never this spacious or glamorously appointed. Make no mistake: this is a classy operation all the way, so you won’t spy any tennis shoes or sweatsuits sullying the polished dance floor. When the Rhythm Rockets take the stage at Untitled, as they’ve been doing on the second Wednesday evening of every month for a while now starting at 7:30 p.m. and going strong for three hours, the joint proceeds to jump to a barrage of eminently danceable rhythms. The music meshes perfectly with the delicious food and cool drinks that can be ordered by summoning your lovely waitress. You can dine on such delicacies as steak tartare, sea scallops, and mushroom tortellini, and top your feast off with a scrumptious slice of whoopee pie, a blend of dark chocolate-espresso cake, peanut butter mousse, and powdered sugar. There was a fair amount of dancing happening during the Rhythm Rockets’ most recent Untitled engagement, but most of the sizable crowd was content to soak in the swinging soiree at their tables or from their barstools. The sound quality was exceptionally crisp and full-bodied all night long; Dave Downer’s concise guitar licks sliced through the air with authority, and Nicole Kestler’s delightful vocals were mixed at precisely the right level for maximum enjoyment as she sailed through longtime Rhythm Rockets favorites that included Little Esther’s “Oo Papa Do,” the relaxed pre-war blues lament “Trouble In Mind,” and the band’s scorching arrangement of Ruth Brown’s “(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean” that they often use as a set closer. The sizzling sax section (tenors Michael Bielecki and Vince Salerno and baritone Justin Kierans) was tight and right throughout the evening, and the rock-solid combination of bassist Lou Marini and drummer Mark Fornek kept the grooves hitting on all cylinders. Mark usually sings a song or two on each set prior to Nicole’s entrance, and now he’s previewing a few Chicago blues numbers that he’s also singing with Dave’s new side band, the Five Alibis. Vince switched over to harmonica to give Little Walter’s ominous “I Don’t Play” an authentic Chicago blues sound, although the horns returned when Mark launched into Junior Wells’ playful shuffle “The Things I’d Do For You.” If you’re anywhere near River North on the second Wednesday of this or any month in the near future, take a walk down Kinzie and seek out Untitled, even if you have to look hard for it. It’s altogether worth the effort--and a great place to check out the Rhythm Rockets doing what they do best! "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"The Tri Tones are such incredible jazz musicians and created the perfect atmosphere for our wedding! They were so friendly and incredibly flexible and easy to work with in the lead up and on the day. Thank you so much!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Great Jazz set played by Laura and her pianist Cornel at Da Francesco Restaurant . Lovely voice , well chosen songs , good to work with . "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"On behalf of Coby and I, we just wanted to thank you and the Mr Swing musicians for the fabulous evening of music and dance on Sunday. We all enjoyed the swing band tremendously and have highly recommended you to our interested guests. Hopefully will see you all perform again soon."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We booked the Brian White quartet for our wedding in June and they were absolutely brilliant! All our guests commented on how great the band were and they played a great mix of music in the two sets, which really got the party going. They were happy to accommodate any special requests we had, including playing in a slightly unusual venue in our case. Dealing with Brian was a pleasure from start to finish and everything was handled very professionally. I highly recommend Brian and his band for any event."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Beyond expectations! From the very first contact, communication was smooth. Jazz Centrale understood exactly what we envisioned for our party and offered thoughtful input for the evening. The final performance exceeded our expectations! The pianist played wonderfully on our own piano, the drummer and double bassist were perfectly in sync, and SaraLee sang flawlessly."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"I am a volunteer at Walden and we all enjoyed your show today Thanks so much for entertaining the residents It was terrific. We look forward to seeing you again"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review: