Review Centre: Bands & Ensembles

"Siobhan was well presented and played beautifully all day for us. Couldn't have been happier with her. Thank you to Siobhan and lastminutemusicians.com"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We would like to thank your band for playing at Eltham Palace and for helping make our wedding day so fantastic. The band and singers surpassed our expectations and Paul and I, and all of our guests had a brilliant time. Not only were we impressed by your expertise, we were also amazed at the breadth of music that you played. Johanna Ashley-Down commented that you were the best band that had ever played at an Eltham Palace Wedding. It has been a pleasure working with you. Thank you again for helping to make our day so special. You made our evening!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Our corporate event was transformed into a lively celebration, thanks to this amazing band. Their ability to gauge the crowd and adapt the playlist accordingly ensured everyone had a fantastic time. Highly recommended for corporate functions!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We hired Grupo Carnival for our summer party and the band were fantastic. Funky upbeat tunes we all know and love, played in a fun summer style. Well worth the booking and would recommend. "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"A massive thank you to The Cheers Function Band who provided the evening music at our wedding. The communication was excellent throughout and made the whole process very easy. The band were fantastic and kept everyone on the dance floor all night. Would highly recommended!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We had Leanne sax play our 21st 18th joint party. She’s second to none what a performance! 10/10"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Every single person at our wedding said how fantastic you all were. You truly made the evening special and I am so thrilled that I asked you to come, Thank you so so much for all your time and effort. I will recommend you to anyone who wants a reliable, professional, fun bag talented band at their occasion."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Lara was simply amazing. I had asked her to sing at my mother's funeral. She helped me navigate the process of landing on the right songs and found herself having to learn two new songs from scratch. She was sensitive to the process and helpful in ensuring that she was in contact with just the right people to make the timing just right. Above everything else she sung both songs beautifully. She contributed heavily to a beautiful send off for Mum. I look forward to working with her in the future on happier events."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"The event was a huge success and the girls, staff and parents were all up and dancing to the Superband until the wee hours. "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"The Rib Ticklers played at our wedding at Owlpen Manor on the 6th September and they were amazing. They kept the dance floor full at all times with a great music selection and received rave reviews from all the guests. Even the catering staff were seen dancing in the kitchens!! We would definitely book them again for our next big occasion. Thank you for making our day so great."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"What a fantastic evening at Walton On Thames Bowling Club . Paul was absolutely fantastic. He sounded so much like Rod Stewart and also was quite witty with it as well, which was great fun. It was loved by all. Looking forward to next years gig! "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"One of the pleasures of writing for Jazz Views is having the opportunity to follow the progress of an artist with each new release. It has been my very great pleasure to follow Lush Jazz Band's progress over the last few years. Having reviewed Lauren’s debut album, in 2016 and the follow-up, five years later, it was with great interest that I listened to her third album. If you’re looking for continued growth and artistic development in a musician, then Lauren has certainly delivered. Earlier today, prior to writing this review, I listened again to all three albums back-to-back and was amazed at what I was hearing. Listening in such a concentrated way, I was struck by how consistent each of the albums is and how the vocalist’s progress is not taking place with gargantuan leaps but steadily, as we can see here, in a paced and sustainable development. One huge advantage for Lauren is retaining the services of pianist Liam Dunachie, who arranges much of the music, and the two have built a solid rapport that has resulted in a formidable partnership. With “Tide Rises,” Lauren Bush has found a perfect balance between the old and the new, with a couple of strong original compositions, a handful of standards, and some contemporary works that she has done a wonderful job of adapting to her voice. The album gets off to a stunning start with a brisk and swinging “Joy Spring.” The tricky lyrics are handled with great aplomb by Bush, and after a lovely solo from Dunachie, she gets in a nice scat chorus of her own. This is followed by the title track, one of two original compositions, in which Lauren has drawn inspiration for the lyrics from the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Played over an ethereal opening from Rhodes and guitar (and the only song to feature electric bass), the music evolves over a gentle tempo with an empowering delivery from Lauren. The other original, “Easy Does It,” has a relaxed, almost lazy tempo, and Lauren has written lyrics that add to the gospel flavor of the music. Versatility and variety being the name of the game, we are treated to a beautiful bossa nova written by Earl Okin titled “Madrugada,” and Joni Mitchell’s “Circle Game” is given a delightful treatment, with some exquisite playing from all. The music flows in a beguiling manner, and Mitchell’s lyrics are given a sensitive reading by the vocalist. Standards have been a constant inspiration for Lauren, and with the depth of maturity that she has gained in the last few years, I have witnessed her raise her game significantly. It is difficult to pick one over another. Her treatment of “Oh What A Beautiful Morning” is flawless and joyous, with a lovely scat solo too, and “Nobody Else But Me” has a charm all of its own. If proof is needed of Bush’s stature as a jazz vocalist, then take a listen to the ballad performance on “This Is Always.” A duet for voice and piano, this is a pure delight and even, dare I say it, surpasses the duo’s reading of “Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most,” which was such a highlight of her last album, “Dream Away.” Closing with another contemporary tune, this time from the pop duo Yazoo, Lauren and Liam Dunachie cleverly recast Vince Clarke’s song, with Lauren giving the excellent Alison Moyet a run for her money. Another step forward for Lauren in a hugely enjoyable set that sees her setting the bar increasingly higher."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We cannot thank this band enough for helping to make the celebration of our son’s life such a special experience and fitting tribute. Brilliant sounds and song choices, upbeat and thoroughly flexible and professional from start to finish. Our boy would have loved it."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"I have seen these guys play at a few venues and I must say that iv'e found their music very uplifting and the musicianship of high quality, definitely would suit weddings, events and parties. All banging dance-along tunes!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Great music and well coordinated by caller for each dance. Good encouragement was given to the guests to participate in the dances. It worked well even though we only had 40 guests. Good variety of music to cater for all tastes. Thoroughly enjoyable evening and would recommend the Blue Jewel Ceilidh Band to anyone."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review: