Monday, November 23, 2009

Unforgettable Vintage Live Wedding & Event Music

One of the nicest things about the magnificent styles of vintage Twentieth Century music — including retro, deco, mid-century moderne, early swing, big band swing, Old Hollywood and the Great American Songbook is that it’s perfect music for the most memorable wedding and events.

Even when the song is over, the melody lingers on.

We like that!

Dear Judy, thank you for being such a beautiful part of our wedding. Andrew and I fell in love with your timeless voice from the first time we heard it, and we had a great time over the last year getting to know you and working with you to plan our special day! We’ll never forget the way you sang the Everly Brothers’ “Let It Be Me! All the best, Jennifer and Andrew Hung

There’s nothing as memorable as a GORGEOUS wedding with vintage live music. These are the events that live on in memory long after everyone has forgotten how many sequins there were on the tablecloths, or what was on the buffet table — or at the candy stations.

“If we could re-live one night over and over again for the rest of our lives, if would be the night of our daughter’s wedding.” Rand and Barbara Drake

Whitney’s wedding really was a lot of fun. We re-created the feel of an elegant nightclub right out of a movie. A late-model Old Hollywood movie, actually — one that had encouraged those at home to hold on just a little bit longer during the last days of World War II. “Casablanca” was our inspiration. We wanted it to be a surprise for the guests, so for the longest time, the theme was a little secret she and her parents and I shared as we plotted and schemed to delight and thrill a diverse group of families and guests. Our code name for the plan: Stealth Egyptian.

From the “host” who greeted arriving guests in a tall red fez to the table placement and special touches Barbara sewed into the bride’s and bridesmaid’s dresses, everything about that wedding was a work of art. The live early swing Era music the band and I performed all evening put it over the top.

As time goes by (pun intended), the spell that was cast on the occasion of Whitney’s wedding lives on. We have the pictures, and they are of a bunch of people having the time of their lives. And so it is with these lovely events. Whitney is a mother herself now, raising children of her own. But for one lovely, dreamy night…..

This, from a New York City fashion editor. For the last dance, we had played our own ethereal re-mix of New York, New York:

I wanted to drop you a note just to say hello and thank you again. I find myself telling my friends and co-workers about the wedding often. Just yesterday, I was talking about the music with a co-worker and it just brought back so many great feelings and memories, I had to write you a quick note. I clicked through the many pictures and imagine my surprise when I found some of our own wedding, right there! I really cherish the long talks we had leading up to our big day and I truly appreciate everything you and your band have given us. Many thanks and take care, Lyn Montagna Lynch

Music is a very powerful ingredient in the mystery of remembrance.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Vintage Live Music for Weddings: Retro, Glamorous Fun!

Live music, with a terrific band playing to an exuberant crowd of party and wedding guests; what fun!

What makes for a great plan utilizing live music at weddings and events?

To me, the repertoire’s the thing.

There is nothing that’s as much fun at a wedding or party than the special INTERACTIVE relationship between brides and grooms, wedding and party guests and a live band — especially a live band with an enormous repertoire.

And how boring that music would be if it were all just swing, or a steady diet of big band dance music from the 1940’s. The music of the 1950’s 1960’s and 1970’s is SO HOT! Our eclectic jazz-pop-swing repertoire has become very contemporary in it’s retro moderne vintageness. We know thousands of songs — our enormous repertoire is actually legendary — and not everything we play is an “obvious choice.” It’s this uniqueness that’s part of the excitement of having live music at a wedding or an event.

Songs like Destination Moon, Song Of The Jet and Hotel California are fun, mood-provoking, sleek and cerebral, flirty and deep, light and elegant. We love the kind of live music that thrills and delights wedding and party guests. By pre-arrangement with the client, of course!

We LOVE to set the scene at a wedding or event. And we are especially loving the creativity of the music we think up to do for modern retro- vintage, mid-century space-age jet set events. We’ve been playing these songs for years; now we’re hearing them on the radio as a new generation realizes there’s more to music than….well…that OTHER stuff.

From Roaring Twenties theme parties, 1950’s doo-wop and oldies music for mid-century retro events, Old Hollywood glamour for estate and ballroom weddings — to hip, jet set Atomic Lounge vintage music for a great 1960’s pool or lounge party — Old Hollywood glamour for events and weddings with LIVE MUSIC is big time fun!

The Great Gatsby…Audrey Hepburn…Grace Kelly…Palm Springs Weekend…a Sinatra Rat Pack lounge party… Casino Royale! My Fair Lady…Breakfast at Tiffany’s…Sabrina…Funny Face…The Bandwagon…Yay!

And outdoor weddings; gotta love ’em. This is why we live in California!

If you can think of it, we can play it. And if you can’t think of it, we can!

We even take requests from the dance floor! If it’s good music, you can bet it’s in our repertoire. It’s all swing to us!

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Live Vintage Music “Makes” A Wedding. The Theme is YOU!

“You and your band absolutely made our wedding!”

This is music to our ears! We love hearing it from our brides and grooms and their families.

We also love it when your guests tell you: that was so you!

Because your wedding or event is not about us. It’s about you

We’re just there to give you a pink cloud to float on.

Music is a great way to express feelings and emotions.

Colors, seasons and settings count, too!