Joel is great to work with and he really shines as an MC. He has so much experience with leading…read moreparties for adolescents and that is likely not a skill you find around every corner! He made my daughter's party so fun and meaningful back in 2023, and we are hiring him and his team again to do the party for my son this summer!

When I was asked by Joel Nelson himself how were the DJs he dispatched to my son's Bar Mitzvah, I…read moretold him, in one word...fantastic! From start to finish, Joe and Jovan were easy to work with, helpful, fun, and whatever I asked them to do, they did it without flinching. Joe did a wonderful job of leading the Jewish traditional dancing while Javon was great with the kids, leading the games. His break dancing was off the hook! Best of all, their pacing of the evening was spot on. I would definitely use them again!

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. ????

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.

Trust me, just hire Chris!!…read more My husband and I worked with Chris to play at our wedding ceremony. He is very easy going and it is a delight working with him! He has a vast list of songs that he knows by heart, and it was great to see a variety of music genres/artists we can select from. We had 2 calls with him: 1 during our initial booking, and then another a few weeks prior to finalize event details and timeline. In terms of equipment, he does provide a lapel microphone and wireless microphone - this was a huge plus as we were able to seamlessly work with him on providing the audio system for our ceremony. Many of our wedding guests RAVED about him afterwards, and truly thankful to have Nick at our morning ceremony to help create the fairytale vibe. He is a valuable vendor to have, and something about live music just adds to the vibe for every event. Thank you so much, Chris!! I highly recommend booking him for your wedding or other events!!

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!

Daniel is a true professional. His sax playing and improvisation will elevate any pre-ceremony,…read moreceremony or wedding cocktail party. I have worked with a lot of musicians over my 38 years of DJing and I have to say that Daniel is one of the best!

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!

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.

Christian Pepin exceeded my expectations. The professionalism and experience was shown in the great…read morepresentation in the activity in which he was hired. His exquisite and talented way of playing those instruments showed the quality of musician that Christian Pepin is. He truly left us wanting to continue listening more. We will definitely hire him again. I recommend that you won't regret it.

Christian is very dedicated to his craft. His advice and help and on music is much appreciated!…read more The knowledge he had to explain it all is always impressive. Can't put enough words what this man can do! Thank you! You're the man!!

Looking into learning an instrument for yourself and/or your kids? Then check out Avloni Academy of…read moreMusic located in the beautiful and peaceful city of Saratoga! I started taking piano lesson with Marianna, a lovely lady who is cheerful and energetic! She is a talented and well-educated piano soloist and accompaniment. As a teacher, she is caring and know what it takes to guide students in the right direction to give them the utmost music education possible! Music is challenging in general, but Marianna makes every single lesson fun while productive. I am blessed to have her as my teacher! A few months of piano lesson, I learned of Avloni Academy of Music and decided to take violin lessons at the school. There, I met Mr. Alex who was once part of an orchestra performing in multiple countries in Europe. While having many years of experiences as a performer, Mr. Alex also specialized in educating students. While I could only take a few lessons with Mr. Alex until my work schedule changed, I can say Mr. Alex is a great teacher with a very calm and compose personality. He cares for his students and want to grow them, so if you want to learn violin, Mr. Alex is certainly the one! Did I not mention the couple owner of the school yet? How can we not include them in the review! Teachers and school location are important factors, but we cannot forget the folks that run the show! I'd like to give a shout-out to Kin and Tina, the couple who owns the school, a huge applause for their dedication and swift responses to students' needs and wants! So, give them a ring for any musical education, either for you or your child!

Ms Tina is a fantastic teacher. She started with our daughter when she was 6 and her playing has…read moreexceeded our expectations. Tina will push her students to get better but also make sure they are comfortable and enjoying their experience. Our daughter will often sit at the piano and just play for fun. Very good combination of playing and reading notes/technical as well. Ms Tina played a lot to inspire students to feel and understand music better.