Review Centre: Jazz Bands

"My favourite band, always brilliant"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"They sound Fantastic!!! Brilliant all round and can’t really recommend them highly enough! If I should ever have another function I would definitely have them there! Thank you so much for excellent sound! "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Anna and her band played at my (adult) barmitzvah celebration and were amazing. From my first enquiry, what came through the most was Anna's bubbly character and enthusiasm; she even went away and learned a few new songs so that it could be an extra special day. From the mellow tunes through dinner through to the livelier ones one on the dancefloor, Anna caught the mood of the evening beautifully. I make an excellent choice."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"REVIEW OF OUR LATEST CD ALBUM IN JAZZ JOURNAL Kit Packham’s One Jump Ahead: Everybody Loves A Boogie The entertaining British jump-jive revival band ploughs the familiar furrow, offering cheeky covers and originals with occasional solos By Hugh Rainey -13 October 2023437 Formed in 1984, this UK group plays jump-jive in a bright and breezy, entertaining style, blended with R&B and vintage rock and roll, and seasoned with light-hearted humour. Leader Kit Packham sings confidently in appropriate style on every track bar one, and contributes alto and tenor to the backing throughout. Packham also composed and wrote the lyrics for eight of the tracks and alternative lyrics for some cheeky adaptations of standards – My Swingin’ Valentine (an upbeat treatment of My Funny Valentine, which surprisingly works quite well) and the very funny Basingstoke (to the melody of Baby Face) and Buy A CD (with appropriate uninhibited bathos to My Way). On the whole, the originals work well for the genre. Love Me, Love My Saxophone and I Dig Potatoes have amusing lyrics somewhat reminiscent of Louis Jordan and Slim Gaillard in style. Enjoyable versions of Don’t Get Around Much Any More, Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t My Baby and My Swingin’ Valentine, come closest to straightforward jazz treatment with some worthwhile brief solos and touches of arrangement. The tracks come from sessions in 2009, 2017 and 2023, mainly as six or seven piece lineups it seems, but with changing personnels. Though studio recorded, the CD comes across as cheery live entertainment – for dancers, rather than perhaps for close, serious listening. But it’s certainly good fun, with some inventive fresh material, and a sense of humour to give a welcome lift to your spirits in these troubled times. Discography Everybody Loves A Boogie; Don’t Clap On The First Beat Of The Bar; Old Rock “n” Roll Songs Never Die; Don’t Get Around Much Any More; Love Me, Love My Saxophone; Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t My Baby; Route 66; Alley Club Blues; As Time Goes By; Alright, OK, You Win; Lockdown Chase; My Swingin’ Valentine; I Dig Potatoes; Basingstoke; Buy A CD; We Had A Real Good Time/We’ll Meet Again (53.52) Collectively: Kit Packham (v, ts, as, bar, cl); Nick Tomalin, Perry White (p); John O’Reilly (g); Steve Knight (g, ts, bj); Alex Keen, Ollie Blanchflower (b); Derek Gayle, Kenrick Rowe (d); Simon Da Silva (t); Tracey Mendham (ts, cl). UK, 2009, 2017, 2023 (No further details.) Pelican records PEL CD 523 "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"What a stunningly seductive voice, like liquid caramel and hibiscus combined with a subtle citrus zing."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Jessica was terrific in all respects. She was excellent at communicating, trekked out from London to darkest Oxfordshire on time and as arranged. Tailored her repertoire to suit our audience and made it a special evening for all 50 guests present. Everyone was full of praise afterwards for Jess making our fund raising supper the success it was. Thanks Jess, you made our evening! "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We booked Teo Blue ms Jazz Due for our re-opening night following our major refurbishment and they were brilliant, they were very professional and really got a great atmosphere going. They were exactly the kind of thing we were looking for and we will definately book them again."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"I cannot praise these guys highly enough! Chris was brilliant right from the start - great with communication, he worked with me to create a track list that included all our favourite songs, he liaised with our sound technician to ensure everything went smoothly on the day and I had total confidence in him leading up to the wedding. On the day, the band arrived on time and they were absolutely excellent!! Full of energy. We had the full 7-piece band (Singer, Sax, Trumpet, Double Bass, Piano, Electric Guitar & drums) They had everyone up and dancing to the swing, jive and rock n roll. All our guests commented on how good they were. And all this for a very reasonable price. They were excellent! I would absolutely recommend this band and I'm so pleased I chose them!! Thank you Chris and One Jump Ahead. 😊"

Reply by One Jump Ahead
Thanks for the great review, Vicky. It was a really fun event, in spite of the uncooperative weather! Some of us (including me) had a bit of trouble finding the campsite but we all made it without too much fuss and thoroughly enjoyed entertaining you and your guests. Just one point. Nobody knows me as Chris. I've always been "Kit" to my family and friends - otherwise people might think I'm a TV wildlife presenter! Let us know if you ever want a goof fun swing/jive band again! - Kit.

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Twelve tone were amazing! Such talented musicians, clearly committed to their craft. The lead singer Millie not only sounded fantastic (every note pitch perfect) she kept the crowd going, great stage presence (beyond her years) they cater for all genres of music. We also went to see them at a Jazz night in a bar in town… and wow they were sensational! They are super talented and have a very successful life ahead of them in the music industry!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Photographed this extremely talented, but ever so slightly, crazy bunch yesterday. If you are looking for a great live funk/soul band for your wedding or other function this lot are hard to beat. Very highly recommended. It was a pleasure. Hope to meet the amazing band very soon xx. "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"The Flamingos performed at Slate art Gallery, and they were wonderful and professional. It was a pleasure to have them plan in my Gallery. I would highly recommend this brilliant Jazz Duo for any occasion."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Fantastic band , really talented group. Great vibe and great music."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Simon was very easy to work with – and flexible on what the band could play. At very short notice they had to add some traditional bar mitzvah music to their repertoire, which they played very well. Also with almost no notice, Simon had to take over the role of MC during the later part of the evening, as our MC was slightly indisposed. He did that very well. The music was mainly dance music that most people could enjoy, either dancing or just listening to. We all loved it including my 20-year-old nephew who is studying piano at Trinity. Guests were dancing the night away and the music really added to the joyous atmosphere. And the sound level was kept at a reasonable level, so those who did not want to dance could still talk. We received lots of compliments on our choice of band. I definitely recommend them."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Thanks so much for a fantastic evening... everybody had a wonderful time and we really didn't want you to stop."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Hi Sarah Jane Thank you so much for making our cocktail party so special and also a big thank you to Roger. Everyone has been commenting on how you made the evening..."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review: