I went to Starving Musician (Santa Clara) in search of an electric drum amplifier and an Epiphone…read moreSheraton. I was in luck this day as I found both a brand new e-drum amplifier and a used Sheraton at fair prices. Looking the guitar over I noticed the nut for the instrument jack was loose and asked that it be tightened prior to purchasing. On a semi-hollow & hollow body guitars this can be a tedious task, hence why I asked for assistance. The guitar tech, Dimitri, stopped what he was doing and went above and beyond my expectations to remedy the problem. It was not a quick fix and he kept me updated throughout the process. Starving Musician is my first stop when looking for music gear. They have been around as long as I can remember and offer the best trade-in value for your used gear. Always a great experience.

Basically a great place for nice condition used equipment at decent prices with sales people to…read morehelp you with your selection. You can also sell some of your stuff here. However, sometimes.... ? A few days ago, I got this... I came in to sell or consign an 8 track reel to reel Tascam 38 in hardly used, pristine condition, value $800-1,000+. I was told that they do not sell this kind of thing and to go to Rasputin or Street Light. ????

Chris played at our corporate reception at the San Francisco Mint on June 23, 2026. He did a…read morewonderful job of entertaining our crowd, who are typically more focused on networking, and changing the vibe from daytime sessions to a fun evening event. We were thrilled by his selection of songs as well - he played a song that was highly requested by my coworker and it made her night. While he was playing, an attendee let me know he recognized Chris from a wedding he played and said having Chris at our event was a sign of great taste! This is truly a great compliment to receive and a testament to Chris's talents. Could not recommend more!

Where do I begin with a review for this guy?…read more Not going with Chris is a mistake. Chris isn't here to do the bare minimum. Chris is here because he loves doing his job. What I see in Chris is a person who not only love his chosen field but is obsessed with quality and constantly bettering himself for both himself and his customers. He is extremely kind, likeable, and constantly surprising in such a good way. But lets discuss details! I met Chris after seeing his advertisements - I chose him within moments. Fortunate for us, he chose us back. Chris brings a wonderful combination of fingerstyle guitar talent as well as DJ skills. The guitar work was incredible and the videos don't do it justice. My guests loved every moment of it. On a personal level, Chris connected with me and my [wife] immediately. He invested personally, even going so far as to learn multiple songs from scratch (some without existing tabs), specifically for our wedding. He did so even when told it was not expected at all. In terms of DJ skills - I would not have ever guessed he was new. Chris immerses in the individual taste of the customer and delivers a seamless experience for the party. He even deviated when needed (after checking with us for permission) to give what he felt was the best touch to his set lists. It was a deeply personal set list and he honored that thoroughly. He managed to get a large crew of introverts on the dance floor in a way I feared was not possible. We didn't have a wedding planner. Chris let us lean on him heavily - talking with us about ceremony management, reception management, and even acted as our MC for the evening. He came with equipment and set ups for multiple locations and was clearly beyond prepared. Again. It's a mistake not going for Chris. Getting him for less than $10,000 is a steal. Chris delivered in a way I just was not expecting - and I cannot recommend him more.

What a night! And what a tour!…read more I have the pleasure of seeing him three times now with his recent performance at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga, CA being the most memorable... will explain later. Being an August Saturday concert, I asked my friend whether he and his family had an interest in coming, especially since his daughter took ukulele lessons and learned to play. The stars aligned and I found six seats to the right of the stage as you face it. It was warm and balmy when we arrived about an hour before the scheduled start time. Being Bay Area locals, we brought or wore our jackets as we entered the venue. The show started on time as the musicians took pre-concert photos on stage before the show began. Not familiar with the Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, I sat back with an open mind and was impressed. I read a little about their background so I only had a hint of what to expect. Here's a sone from earlier on this tour (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfEcz54-8E8). The most familiar song in their set that I enjoyed was this one (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cA_5-PQcSSA) (clip is from several years back). As they played, several couples in the audience found room on their aisles to dig into their swing in dancing the night away. I was especially impressed by their musicianship as I've always had an affinity towards groups with strong horn sections. From the bass player, keyboards/pianist, and drummer, the talent shows and their skills mesh well. The lead vocalist was no slouch while playing the guitar too. After playing about a 50-minute set, there was a short intermission. So I've seen Jake twice earlier several years ago, with both performances at Davies Symphony Hall. Seeing him here was different and I mean this in a good way. Being an outdoor venue, this atmosphere felt a lot more casual and sample of him on this tour just a few nights earlier (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtzsvNhL-Y8). Sadly, the venue was only about 70% full, not sure whether due to Covid concerns or timing. Jake did a good mix of songs with several devoted to his favorite musicians from the past; amazing that he remembers their music given his age. I was impressed by how he thanked many friends and family members who were in the audience; as a tribute to them and to honor his values, he reminded everyone the importance of pursuing your dreams and the importance of education. You would think that this would summarize the performance but the best part was yet to come. At the conclusion of his set, he announced to the audience that he would be at the souvenir stand to greet audience members who were interested. Since it was already 10:30 pm and we had a minor in our group, we were not going to stay, fearing the length of the line. As we reached the parking lot, we noticed the long line of vehicles that were not moving so we returned to the venue and saw that there were only six or seven people ahead of us when we joined the line. The best part is learning how genuine a person he is and that his true self is on display when he's in concert. Take a bow, Jake, and good luck on the rest of your tour. Your worldwide audience are in for a treat!

My husband and I hired Nova Jazz as a quartet for our wedding in spring of 2026 and they were…read morewonderful to work with! Easy to communicate and plan with and their performance really elevated our reception. We let them know what kind of vibe and tempo we liked ahead of time and they did the rest choosing songs to play for the reception to keep things upbeat without being overpowering. Daniel checked in with us at various points throughout the night to ensure the vibes were right and if we needed any adjustments. Nova Jazz also was able to play a special request song outside of their listed repertoire for our first dance which we really appreciated and was very special for us. We'd recommend them for weddings and any other special events when you want extra pizzazz!

Working with Daniel and his band was all around an amazing experience! After reading all the…read morereviews and listening to a few of their videos online, I knew I wanted Nova Jazz Band to play at my company's 30th Anniversary celebration I was planning. TLDR; they exceeded every expectation from start to finish, and Daniel made everything completely stress-free. From our very first correspondence, Daniel was very friendly, quick to respond, knowledgeable, and incredibly professional. The music was phenomenal - very classy and perfect for our occasion. The band totally nailed the vibe. Daniel's attention to detail was next-level. He thought of all the little things that usually fall through the cracks - from what songs should play during the band's breaks, to how the sound system was set up, to which speakers the recorded music should come from. He even coordinated with the venue director to make sure there wouldn't be a single hiccup. Basically, he handled every possible thing before I could even think to worry about it. Everything ran like clockwork and I couldn't have asked for a better experience. Daniel and his team went above and beyond in every way. I can't wait to hire them for a future event! Highly, highly recommend!

If you are learning guitar, or maybe just looking to advance your playing to the next level, look…read moreno further! I bought a guitar right before COVID and really wanted to learn it right (not just from YouTube and IG). Jerry had the highest reviews on Yelp, so I signed up. We do sessions once a week and it's been an AMAZING journey. What I expected it so get better and better at guitar. What I didn't expect (as a trumpet music major back in college, I thought I knew it all) was to deeply learn about music. Jerry is well respected Bay Area musician and has played for decades in amazing band as well as releasing his own album and has a YouTube channel. His grasp of technical guitar playing and music history is crazy (check out his YouTube videos!) While journeying through rhythm, rock, funk and jazz guitar; rock and blues solos, Jerry showed me that what I've learned about music is missing a ton. The progression of our lessons is to learn artists and their history, some theory, and step-by-step how to play influential pieces starting with the early days of blues and rock and roll and who influenced who and why (fascinating stuff!) As a result I've learned a TON of great songs (way too many to list here) from Blues: BB King to Jimi; Rock, Pop and Heavy Metal from Zeppelin to Clapton; Jazz from Charlie Christian to Pat Metheny; Modern music like Bruno Mars, Taylor Swift, Black Crowes, Pink, Ariana Grande; we've even hit up J-pop and K-pop! It's been 3 years now and going strong. Jerry has instilled in me a sense of curiosity about what makes music sound great and why some of the best music in history came from the 60's to 90s (he even wrote a book about it). Jerry has taught so much about the guitar and music in general. Every day is a journey.

I took both bass guitar and guitar lessons from Jerry in high school, and I will always consider…read morethose lessons to be one of the most fun things that I did during my otherwise studious and extremely nerdy teenage years. As his student, you will discover very quickly that Jerry is not only passionate about teaching guitar, but also about teaching music. This goes beyond just teaching music theory (which he doesn't skimp on, by the way, thank you Jerry!). I always loved hearing him talk about the backstory of each song I learned to play; not just the what, but the how and the why - the lifeblood of music itself. His teaching curriculum is very structured and intentional but never feels restrictive or impersonal, probably because Jerry as a person is very chill and relaxed, and you will immediately want to be friends with him. If you are looking for a guitar/bass teacher who is not only insanely talented but also has a true gift for teaching and makes lessons fun and exciting, look no further, because Jerry is your man!

I love Deepti as a person and love her singing. I hire her for my Daughter Birthday party. She…read morecalled me to make sure all details ..she was on time. My Kids and friends love her the way she sang ..on the Top she sang old songs too which made my mother happy too . Thank You

Kathy is a fantastic teacher. She prepared me for many…read moreauditions, and most importantly, the one for entering the Master of Music in Vocal Performance, where I am now finishing my master's. She will guide and teach you to have a healthy technique and a complete connection with your body and emphasize the approach to the text that is so important for a singer. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced singer, she will be great for you.

My association with Kathy is almost a decade long! She first taught my daughter when she was in…read morehigh School and then my son through his high school years. She is thorough and methodical in her approach and able to harness an individual's talent and interest and channel it into something quite extraordinary. Kathy cares about her students and her knowledge and passion for music is apparent from the first time you connect with her. She took the time to understand the goals and aspirations of both my children and always coached and provided thoughtful and actionable feedback to help them improve their vocal range, tone, control and technique. She is an inspiring teacher who genuinely cares about her students and goes the extra mile to support and encourage her students. During the four years under her training for classical vocals and musical theater, my son matured from a young child to a bass-baritone, performing regularly at school and external events. He's now a sophomore in college and is continuing to take voice lessons there and is also a part of the University choir. More recently, my daughter, now 24 years old - who took lessons from her as a high student (and is now graduated from college and an adult) - began taking voice lessons from Kathy again for the past year and it's been a pure joy to know that she is in good hands. My daughter is currently in Berlin, Germany, but Kathy has made the time to help her with her lessons at a time that is convenient and effective for both to have meaningful lessons even though they are separated by thousands of miles and nine hours apart! I am sure when my daughter decides to go back for her Masters, she will continue her vocal journey and be a vibrant participant in the music community of whichever University she joins. The greatest gift she has given to my children is the love for music and performance for which I am most grateful. I highly recommend Kathy Ludowise to anyone who is seeking a vocal coach - no matter what level of previous experience. Her talent, passion and knowledge makes Kathy a wonderful vocal instructor who truly cares about her students and their goals. You'll be in good hands with her.

We have been attending piano classes since December 2021. Our first session was a group class which…read moreis an excellent interactive introductory for toddlers/young children. We have continued with weekly classes. It is expensive. However, well worth it. We love Mr. Victor who is passionate about music, has superb patience with my 5 year olds and is never upset that we don't practice at home. We will continue to attend classes as long as possible.

My kid's first piano class starts from here. I didn't expect group lessons would be great, but the…read morefact tells my kid loves the piano class so much. MS Liz is a teacher for my kid's class. She is very nice and professional. She always teaches basic keyboard knowledge using a story. It helps a lot for little kids to remember it. There're a lot of fun and activities in the class. It has never been a boring class. I just signed up next session for my kid, because he really enjoys piano classes here. This is definitely a place he wants to go.