Review Centre: Vintage Bands

"I just wanted to say thank you so much for your help in coordinating the Prophets of Swing to play for our wedding last Saturday. The music was really spectacular and we were bowled over by their incredible talent. The special arrangement they prepared of ‘In The Mood’ was gorgeous and made the day even more special for us. Many of the guests specifically commented on how incredible the music was and they were all thoroughly impressed! I would recommend them to absolutely everyone because they really are so talented and a pleasure to be around. James and I have enquired about attending one of their performances in the Croydon area, as we would love to sit down and properly listen to them, when we’re not busying about with guests! Thank you again to yourself and to the band for making the day so magical."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Jess, thank you so much for yesterday. You have a stunning voice, beautiful musicality and the band were fantastic. Everyone really enjoyed it (although no one more than me!) Please pass my sincere thanks onto the band. Let me know if there's anything else I can do to help your business (recommendations etc). Thanks, Alex xx"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Thank you [and the band] so much for making our Family Party such a success on Saturday night. Everyone was thrilled with the swing music - and to have such a range of instruments and two fantastic singers was the tops. [I have to say the clarinet really adds to the bands sound - it is terrific]. I mentioned to a few people that we had wondered if more 'pop' music with a DJ and recorded music would have been preferred at the party. The unanimous answer was that nothing beats live music and your style of swing music was irresistible at getting everyone [from 4 to 84] dancing. Your band really made our party the success it was - very many thanks. With all good wishes"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Absolutely fantastic, played the reception at our wedding and really made the day very special! Thank you so much :) "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Thanks to you and your fellow band members for helping us have such a wonderful time on Saturday at Ruth and Luke's wedding. As we get back to normal my wife, Ros and I just wanted to say thanks. Ruth and Luke have escaped to the sun for a short break but I know they were very pleased with the whole day."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"The band were absolutely amazing. All of our wedding guests thoroughly enjoyed them. Thank you!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"I just wanted to write and say a massive thank you to you all for such a great show on Saturday. You went down brilliantly with the audience, and watching everyone form a train and dance around the arena was brilliant. I'm really grateful for your support and commitment to the Lowde Music Trust."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"I have been to a number of events and fundraising nights with The Shakesters and have always had a fantastic night. Therefore, when we started to arrange a fundraising night for our school it was an easy choice. That was in 2015, and last Friday we had our second annual fundraising evening with The Shakesters. What a brilliant night, the band are fantastic. Friendly, fun, professional and absolutely brilliant at what they do best. Yep, getting lots and lots of people up on the dancefloor all night and giving everyone a brilliant night. The songs were all real crowd pleasers and the band helped to create such a great atmosphere. I cannot recommend them highly enough and we are arranging next years event already!! Very much looking forward to having The Shakesters there to rock the night away. So, many thanks!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"The Shakesters played at The Departure Lounge cafe for the cafes’ 10th anniversary and it couldn’t have been a better choice of bands. The weather was not on our side but the band managed to get everyone dancing and keep the atmosphere lively and fun. They have a unique style which fits the cafe perfectly. We’ll definitely be keeping the band in our minds for any future events."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We would all like to thank Jack and his Old Time Band for providing the perfect atmosphere at our father's party. We`ll be recommending you to all of our friends, Bravo! "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"These guys played a fab set at my parents recent 50th wedding celebrations. Everyone dancing and singing along. Would definitely recommend "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"A huge thank you to you and the musicians for last night!! You are incredible and can’t wait to dance with you all again soon!! X"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"The Bluebird Trio were a professional and fantastic addition to our corporate drinks reception with over 500 guests. We have received excellent feedback owing to their exciting range of covers that kept us all entertained throughout. The whole booking process was very easy. Thanks again!"

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:

"He was so good – we would usually need to book a much bigger band to create the kind of impact Kevin created with just a small band"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review: