Review Centre: Jazz Bands

"Carlo was amazing from start to finish. He created the perfect ambience for the party. Everybody commented how great he sounded. Highly recommended"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Fabulous night with The Red Hot Rags on Tuesday. Non stop & up-tempo swing from across the ages. Singer Jessica De Giudici went from strength to strength and Giulio Romano was a delight on guitar. Three Italians & two Brits made for a really entertaining evening. They will be back."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We thought Rory was great! We would like to give big thanks to Rory and the band for their performance at our wedding reception in Cheshire on May 21st this year. The jazz trio were great and enjoyed by everyone, they helped make our evening special - just what we hoped for! Rory was very professional and helpful and we would have no hesitation in recommending him to anyone."

Reply by Rory
Hello Liam, Many thanks for the review, which is perfect and much appreciated. We would like to take this opportunity to wish you guys our congratulations and best wishes for the future. Hope to hear from you again in the near future, Many thanks, and best regards, Best Regards, Claire Maillot

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We just want to say a massive thank you to Martyn and Sharon for playing at our wedding on 9th August 2021 at the Moat House. From start to finish they were professional and friendly, they are both incredibly talented musicians and all our guests absolutely loved the music. We would not hesitate to recommend you both and would book you again in a heartbeat. Thank you for being part of our special day, you really were the highlight of the evening. Many thanks again, Mr and Mrs Lawlor"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Lauren was absolutely fantastic and really helped us launch our new event with a bang. Her approach was incredibly professional whilst her performance just amazing. Would definitely book again and cannot recommend her enough. "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Thank you so much for helping us find and book Rosanna and Martin for our party! They were absolutely brilliant!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"An insanely talented pair. Thank you! "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We booked Laura and her pianist for my birthday celebrations. They were excellent. They arrived in good time to get set up and ready to perform on time. They were cheerful and all our guests enjoyed their performance. They allowed a family member to join them with some of their numbers, he is an experienced trumpet play, and he enjoyed working with them. We would recommend them without reservation. They helped to make my event truly memorable."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Hi LFS. Thank you so much for performing last night. Everyone loved the music and it really added to the event. A"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"The MB Band were the PERFECT choice for our event and for the venue. The band were superb, we had great feedback from our guests and would no hesitations in booking you again or recommending to others."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Hi Rory thank you so much for your support today you were brilliant everyone said what talented person you are."

Reply by Rory
Hi Steve thank you so much for such wonderful feedback! I’d be delighted to consider a residency. Do let me know when would be a suitable time to meet and discuss. Have a wonderful weekend and send my best wishes to Jules for Mother’s Day.

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:

"Hi Jess. Just to say thank you very much for your efforts. Your choice of repertoire was absolutely terrific, and met the needs of the audience and our special occasion perfectly. I have had emails today saying that many people really enjoyed your performance, and my colleagues on our centenary organising committee said that you were a great success. We were also very grateful for your sensitivity in the way you spoke with some of the older members of our circle! I have had a number of enquiries about booking you for future events, so I will make sure your details are passed on to them. With very many thanks and good wishes, Kindest regards, Keith"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Roger and the band were brilliant throughout, and really added something to our reception. We really appreciated Roger taking the time to speak to us at some length about best options for the composition of the band for our wedding and what would work best. Professional in the run up, and very well received by our guests, the guys were exceptional. Would not hesitate to book again."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Jess, You and the whole band were brilliant! Everyone loved the whole performance. It was a fantastic event thank you! "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review: