FEATURED EVENT: Swinging New Orleans Jazz Group At Private Birthday Party
Matt Ray Trio Plus Special Guest Kevin Louis Brings A Touch Of Soulful Jazz To Greenwich, CT Birthday Bash
This September, Jazz Capital Events once again proved why it’s a leader in the special events industry by delivering an amazing band of top-call jazz musicians from New York City to a private, invite-only birthday celebration at the client’s residence in Greenwich, CT. The client, a respected member of the banking industry, approached Jazz Capital in search of an alternative to the stock bands that so many agencies offer. He wanted a group that could blend in to a sophisticated, catered event for 100 guests, but one that could also provide some character, some energy, and some soul. Essentially, this client wanted some “real jazz,” without sacrificing the ability to converse and have dinner comfortably with his friends and family.
Jazz Capital Events was able to secure its most requested piano trio, The Matt Ray Trio, along with the New Orleans-born and bred trumpet phenom Kevin Louis, (of both the Duke Ellington and Count Basie bands), for this date. Taking inspiration from the old record “The Oscar Peterson Trio +1″, this group, featuring Michael Hawkins (of the Cyrus Chestnut Trio) on bass, and Aaron Thurston (The Cultures of Rhythm, US Jazz Ambassadors) on drums, swung deep all night. Performing jazz classics like Stompin At The Savoy, Footprints, and Freedom Jazz Dance, the client was duly impressed. This group was even better than he had hoped. “These guys are the real deal!” he remarked.
As the cocktail hour began, on what turned out to be a cool fall evening outdoors, the musicians warmed the guests up with some classic jazz standards. As dinner arrived, the group was encouraged to “do their thing”, and proceeded to dig in and improvise at will, never straying too far from “background music” volume. After dinner, as the guests and the guest of honor mingled, the band went deeper into their dance-tempo repertoire, doing some New Orleans numbers like “I Feel Like Funkin It Up”, and “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy”.
The client was impressed, not only with the music, but also with the number of compliments the band received from his guests. He thanked the band for helping to make his birthday celebration a success, and requested them for future engagements at his residence.
Jazz Capital Events’ groups are the perfect selection for special events that require a balance of soul, energy, class, and taste. It’s truly “real jazz”, with no hassle.
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