Review Centre: Bands & Ensembles

"🎶 A huge thank you to the incredible Adele & Andy for their fantastic performance on Wednesday night! What a treat to have them with us — from their brilliant original songs to the cracking covers that had everyone singing along, it was a night to remember! 🎤✨"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Hi Hannah, Hope you’re well. It was so good to meeting you last Friday evening - we all had a really good time, the feedback has been so positive from everyone, we all really enjoyed the evening! Just to say, thanks very much from all of us and I really hope we see you again sometime soon. Wishing you a very happy Christmas and New Year."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"A complimentary glass of bubbly is always a good sign as you step through the door. Or, in this case, as you step aboard. We were on the elegant Millennium Diamond, a handsome modern catamaran leaving from Westminster Pier for a jazz cruise of the Thames. Jazz and dinner. And bubbly. With Big Ben glowing in the mellow late evening light, we cast off (I think that’s the term). We were presented with a small safety lecture and a large plate of tapas. As we glided by the London Eye and under bridges, the boat’s resident jazz band began to play. They are Chi Jazz: Noel Jay on electric keyboards, Matt Tween on bass, Steve Grainger a disciple of Johnny Hodges with a penchant for sneaking cheeky little quotations from The Pink Panther into his solos on alto sax and John Clarke on drums. Debbie Cobbett was guest vocalist. And this is a crack quartet, as was made clear by their opening number A Foggy Day (In London Town) — a great tune, though you could hardly have chosen a less foggy day than this scorching, gorgeous summer occasion with sunlight striking through the panoramic windows. Grainger’s alto was in the lead, offering sweetly swaying, reverberant cadences. The stately skyline of London surged grandly past as the combo commenced I’ve Got You Under My Skin with Debbie Cobbett joining in on warm, mellow vocals. As Grainger’s sax played debonair, descending phrases with the setting sun glinted on the river waves and the Shard rearing gleaming against the sky it became clear we were in for a tremendously pleasant experience. Red double-decker buses rolled across Cannon Street Bridge and HMS Belfast hove into view as the band began A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square, reinforcing their excellent choice of songs. Noel Jay provided a delicate drapery of keyboards and Grainger went down a spiral bebop staircase on his alto. Matt Tween’s warm bass rolled like the waves as Jay embarked on a discursive, detailed solo. Steve Grainger’s playing on Moon River was reflective and rhapsodic, coming at the tune from all angles with an echoing complexity of commentary. Noel Jay’s ringing keyboard solo excavated the melody from a solid body of improvisation while the steady cadence of John Clarke’s exemplary work on cymbals and brushes rooted the tune. The only way the band could have improved the evening’s music was by playing The Way You Look Tonight — which they proceeded to do. Jay performed a chiming, charging solo while Grainger’s alto scooted and soared above and John Clarke’s drumming skilfully kicked the number forward. This was bop adapted for the dinner hour, and none the worse for it. The sun descended in a benign hot blaze over Tower Bridge, the blue sky scribbled with white contrails as One Note Samba provided a showcase for soloists. Steve Grainger’s fluid sax purred with restraint as he skirted the tune and Noel Jay played bright raucous phrases and dancing long lines against the backdrop of Matt Tween’s big, ripe bass and John Clarke’s steady, constant shimmer of drums. I could also tell you about The Girl from Ipanema but I was too busy concentrating on my moist, flavoursome chicken breast in ratatouille — which is a pity, because both Grainger’s sax and Jay’s keyboards were at their best as I stuffed my mouth full of buttery mashed potato. With the riggings of the Cutty Sark floating above the dark trees and the nocturnal sweep of the city silhouetted against the last of the blue sky, it was clear that this was an unbeatable way to spend an evening. Great music, great food, great experience. "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"I am so glad I booked Anthony for my husband’s birthday party. He was a great singer, all our guests were impressed with how much he sounded like Sinatra, Elvis etc. but also a great entertainer. He took time to make sure the set list was exactly what we wanted and was flexible in suggesting changes to the running order on the day which made the evening run perfectly. I would have no hesitation in recommending him."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Jen Trott and Julia Farrants really helped us to have such a happy day . They played exactly what we asked for and were friendly and the music was really fun . I’d recommended them any day ! "

Reply by TheStringWitches
Thankyou , Jen and Julia really enjoyed helping to make your day memorable and joyful .

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Sara has sung in our club many times - and I hope she will many more times. Lovely voice, perfect attitude."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Absolutely loved their Artic Monkey and Queens of the Stone Age covers! Really really impressed with their sets and so glad we booked them for our party. Got everyone up dancing and everyone I spoke to commented on how great the band was. Book them, you won’t regret it! 😊"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We hire Ashley once every two years for our Steven Gerard Foundation Charity Event in Portugal as well as a few times a year for Steven’s house parties and he really does bring the event to life. Regulars have started to know him now from the parties and so always ask, “Is the sax player coming?”"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Thank you immensely for the absolutely superb performance at Ratho Parish Church. The success of a wedding relies so much on background music and Scotland Strings certainly excelled in that regard. Personally, Gill and I missed out somewhat as our arrival, by dint of normal bride and father custom and practice, occurred in the late stages of your performance. However, our guests spoke very highly indeed of your presence and delivery and raved of how the quality enhanced a momentous occasion. Morag, once again, many thanks for helping to make Gill and Jamie’s wedding such a huge success. Best wishes for the continuing success of Scotland Strings and the enjoyment that goes with it."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Our wonderful singing waiter Jack went down a storm at our wedding on Monday and I cannot thank him enough. He had everyone up dancing, singing and waving their napkins around. Two days later my throats is still hoarse and my feet throbbing but it was so worth it."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"I wanted to say a massive thank you for Friday it was Brilliant! Absolutely loved your dress and the show was fantastic. Everyone was so full of enjoyment afterwards, well done you!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"The Royal Buzz did a great job at the wedding we hired them to play at. They were also very communicative and willing to play any kind of songs. On the night of the wedding we were delayed and changed up the timing and sets completely and they were very flexible and willing to make changes which we appreciated. The music and energy was great - would definitely recommmend."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"the band was fabulous and great to work with. Extremely professional and kind, even when you had to move your placement after you had already set up J I would highly recommend them for any event whether private, personal or corporate. Thanks again for everything!"

Reply by The Grand Central Trio
Thanks Charlotte, it was amazing to play in the house of commons and to meet you all at Netcracker! Hopefully we will all get to work again sometime in the future. Thanks for having us and good luck on the rest of your Europe trip :)

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Many thanks for making our day memorable. The music was truly wonderful, and really cemented the Irish theme for the day. All our guests really enjoyed it."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Thank you so much for the music on Friday night, we were very pleased with the way the jazz enhanced the evening. You certainly gave us value for money."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review: