Review Centre: Swing Bands

"Ella Fitzgerald was born on 25 April 1917. She didn't have the easiest of starts to life - losing both parents and making a living on the streets as a teenager. She had hopes of becoming a dancer but had no training. What she did have was the gift of the smoothest, silkiest voice Jazz has known with the most delicate of touches - to hear Ella was to be kissed on the cheek by the lightest of breezes. Over her career she recorded 2,000 songs many of which are now Jazz standards - a fact in part due to the Fitzgerald imprimatur. Annette Gregory has a voice that is naturally lower in pitch than Ella’s and wisely she does not attempt a tribute act that imitates - rather her performance is a celebration of Ella’s legacy and the songs that will be sung and heard for as long as humans live on this planet. For this gig she was to have been accompanied by a quartet but unfortunately the bassist and sax player were caught up in a traffic standstill on the M6, but the piano (John) and drums (Matt) backing meant the stripped down support ensured that we focused on the songs. Just as Annette does not try to sound like Ella, neither does she slavishly follow her interpretations. This was strikingly apparent in songs such as “Miss Otis Regrets” and “The Man I Love” (which was more of a rocking blues than the familiar ballad). Annette's delivery is characterised by controlled, fluent and delicate phrasing and a pair of ballads - “When a Woman Loves a Man” and “Embraceable You” - were particularly pleasing. Let's hope that Annette and the full quartet make it back to Buxton soon! (10 / 10)"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Sara played at my wedding in London, she was a marvel! Flexible with the timings, prompt, professional and a terrific singer! Hire her now!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Loved your set at the Blind Bee this week!! Amazing band."

Reply by Vintage Visionnaires
Thanks Dan, we had a blast!

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Thank you for singing at our Ball on Saturday night! It was a pleasure to meet you and great to hear you sing so brilliantly to our (noisy!) audience. I hope you enjoyed the experience as much as they did, we had so many nice comments and compliments on the night and since then."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Many, many thanks indeed for your fabulous music last night at Kenwood's Brewhouse. The sound was just what I was hoping for and it was perfect at setting the tone and mood for the evening. Lots of people have been saying how much they enjoyed listening to you. Thank you Bruno for setting up and re-setting up, and re-re setting up again, for the weather.... but I was so pleased we managed to be outside for at least some of the time. Many thanks indeed again and I will not hesitate to recommend you to any friends looking for such a friendly and professional addition to their celebration. You were both fab - thank you!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"The band did a great job and it was exactly what we were after for the afternoon entertainment. Thanks!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We decided late in the day that live music would enhance our summer party. We looked at a number of groups but The Mid Atlantic Sax Trio seemed best to fit the bill. Their sample videos impressed and we were confident to book them. They arrived on time, were extremely courteous and engaged with our guests taking requests and playing a few encores which was welcome. We have no hesitation at all recommending them to other clients. We will be asking them to return in 2018 for our next summer event."

Reply by The Mid Atlantic Organ Trio
Thanks for endorsing us, Steve! We enjoyed playing for you!

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Absolutely fantastic. The energy, quality of sound, musicianship, choice of songs, performance and togetherness as a group. They had us dancing the entire time. Personal highlight was when the saxophonist led us in a conga line out of the building and back in again. One guest said it was the best live music they had seen. They were so easy and responsive to organise logistics with. They even helped us rent an accordion that one of our guests played during the ceremony. Worth every penny and would love to see them live again!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Many thanks for the lovely email below - and you beat me to it as was also going to send a note thanking both you, Roger and Adam for the superb music on our wedding day. It was absolutely fantastic! Roger and his band drew some very admiring glances as we walked through the park and when we reached the courtyard of Fulham Palace, all their staff hung out of the upstairs windows looking down on us. I think some even asked for his details too??"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"The music was amazing on Saturday! Harry and Simon played so beautifully in the church it set me and my husband off crying immediately. Their playing at the reception was fabulous too, it makes for such a relaxed vibe. Thank you so much for helping to make it such a happy day! "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Thank you for playing for our drinks reception. There have been lots of nice comments from my family and friends!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Great group, highly recommend"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"You guys are very, very good. It's been great not having the music too loud, and the quality has been excellent. Everyone has commented how good the music is - thank you both!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"What can we say. Faultless, amazing, professional, exciting. From the moment we met you for coffee last year we knew all was going to be great. You were as excited as Gerald and I as we discussed Amy and Pauls ideas. Of course once we saw you and the team perform at the showcase event we were even more convinced because you could provide all the different kinds of music we were wanting for the wedding. Such a variety, each section adding another twist, each one a talking point. Sera, when you sang during the ceremony, both Gerald and I had tears in our eyes, your most beautiful voice, unforgettable, one of the highlights of the whole day for us. Please pass on our thanks to each and every one of the team, and we wish all of you well in the future. Hopefully, we will see you again sometime."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Great band. Thank you!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review: