Introducing “The Los Angeles String Quartet”

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A New Contemporary Approach to the “Classic” String Quartet

Early this year, Rossi Music saw the demand rising for more than just the standard classical string quartet for the Los Angeles weddings and corporate events that we book. Young brides and grooms have been requesting their favorite pop songs for their wedding ceremony in record numbers.   So we started to put the word out, looking for talented young female string players interested in playing rock and pop standards in a string quartet format. Meanwhile, we collected arrangements of rock tunes for string trio and quartet to add to our repertoire. In a few weeks, we had a list of the hottest players in town – freelance musicians who actively play in movie scores and on screen in shows such as American Idol, America’s Got Talent, The Voice, and numerous talk shows and primetime television. In April, the Los Angeles Rock String Quartet was formed, rehearsed, video taped, and already performing and trying out the new groups arrangements at wedding ceremonies in the area.

We found arrangements from several prominent Los Angeles composer-arrangers of excellent rocking string trio and quartet arrangements from the 60′s to current pop hits. Songs like “My Sharona”, “I’m Yours” (Jason Mraz), Michael Jackson tunes, Led Zeppelin, Lady Gaga (Poker Face, Papparazzi, Bad Romance), You Belong to Me (Taylor Swift), Beatles, Elton John, Rolling Stones medley, Sting, and many others too numerous to mention. We have already produced several video clips of many of the songs in the Los Angeles String Quartet‘s repertoire that you can view at at http://www.rossimusic.biz/weddings-ceremony-demo.php

Please give us a call for a free quote and to develop a customized playlist for your event!  call 818-902-1233 or contact us at http://www.rossimusic.biz

 

Los Angeles Jazz Bands: what do we provide? Let’s talk styles of jazz bands.

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los angeles jazz band swingOur Los Angeles Jazz Bands are so stylistically diverse that it helps to understand a little about the various styles that work best for weddings and events.

Jazz has grown to be a very loose description for a music genre created 100 years ago.  The first thing we will do when you call us is ask questions about the specific kind of jazz that turns you on.  The classic jazz quartet typically features Sax, piano, bass, and drums, performing jazz standards from the Great American Songbook.  This is one of the most popular reasons to hire jazz musicians; it’s the perfect music to entertain while guests are able to talk, socialize, and enjoy themselves and without being distracted by the music.  Corporate dinner parties, awards shows, wedding receptions and dinners, corporate events, cocktail parties and engagement parties are the usual events that hire Jazz musicians.  For a less traditional approach, smooth jazz or R&B jazz bands (think George Benson…) often provide a more contemporary groove while still remaining background music.  Swing bands or “gypsy jazz” bands (think Django Reinhardt…) can offer a retro 1920’s acoustic jazz feel that seems to be in vogue at the moment.  “French lounge” (think Pink Martini…) jazz bands with a vocalist singing in French are also very classy.  There is still the “big bands” in the style of Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, and Glen Miller, which lends itself to nice dinner music and swing dancing.

One other thing to know is that many of our Los Angeles jazz bands are capable of doing R&B and top 40 dance cover songs and they also are capable of doing classical music for wedding ceremonies. Our musicians are studio professionals in the LA area so they are versatile and extremely talented.

Go to http://www.rossimusic.biz/wedding-corporate-bands-los-angeles.php or for more specific info about our los angeles jazz groups please go to: http://www.rossimusic.biz/jazz-bands-los-angeles.php or call us at 818-902-1233.

Los Angeles Jazz Bands: Jazz Song Lists

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los angeles jazz bandsJazz Song lists for Rossi Music’s Los Angeles Jazz Bands?  
Our Los Angeles Jazz Bands are very versatile and can play many styles of jazz. See our blog on “Jazz Bands – Styles of Jazz from live Jazz bands in Los Angeles. What style do you want?  We have blogs written for every style of Jazz music so that you can be educated, understand and be able to articulate to our jazz music agency what kind of jazz you prefer and this will help us to send you the right videos and song lists for the right bands. We also have song lists for each of our various jazz groups.  We have a list of the various styles of jazz you can choose from on our jazz style questionnaire.  This helps us choose the right jazz band for your party or event.  With our questionnaire you can pick from either the jazz artist name or the style of jazz music.  Either will help us get exactly what you have in mind for the type of jazz style you want for your particular los angeles wedding, party or corporate event.
Email us at rebecca@rossimusic.biz or go to our website for more information and demos of our various jazz performers and jazz groups at http://www.rossimusic.biz/wedding-corporate-bands-los-angeles.php or directly to our jazz groups page at http://www.rossimusic.biz/jazz-bands-los-angeles.php

 

Los Angeles Jazz Bands – Sizes of Jazz Bands

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jazz music los angelesThe size of a our Los Angeles jazz bands can be anything from a solo jazz piano, jazz guitar or jazz harp to a 17 piece Jazz Swing Big Band or even larger if you want a Society Orchestra with Strings etc. So once again, you may need some guidance on what is going to work best for your event and your entertainment budget. A Rat Pack Band (a fun band with a Sinatra, Dean Martin, or Sammy Davis-type sound) has been popular for many years and ranges from a jazz quartet at its smallest to a 17-piece big band.  Other popular sized jazz bands are a 10-piece with a male and female singer up front, 4 rhythm section players and 4 horns. That is a very versatile band that can cover anything from the 40′s Big Band Swing Era to Top 40 Dance Cover Band songs, including classic to current pop. That way, you can enjoy listening to them playing jazz at cocktails and dinner and then rev up the party for dancing for the last two hours with Top 40 cover band favorites for a dance party.  Some of our most popular jazz bands in Los angeles are our jazz trios and quartets because of their size and versatility. They can be  as versatile as playing classical music for your ceremony and jazz for cocktail hour and then expand to a full size dance band for dancing for your wedding reception. What ever size you need we can help you determine the best band for the best deal.

Go to http://www.rossimusic.biz/wedding-corporate-bands-los-angeles.php or for more specific info about our los angeles jazz groups please go to: http://www.rossimusic.biz/jazz-bands-los-angeles.php or call us at 818-902-1233.

Los Angeles Jazz Trios and Jazz Quartets: The Most Requested Jazz Bands for Weddings and Corporate events

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los angeles jazz trioOur busiest jazz bands in Los Angeles are our jazz trios and jazz quartets.  These bands are very popular for corporate event dinner parties where nice jazz background music is the preferred form of entertainment for our Los angeles events. Jazz trios and quartets in Los Angeles are very versatile and frequently used for wedding ceremonies (these bands can play classical music for your ceremony and then switch to jazz for the cocktail and dinner hour). The rest of the wedding reception depends on whether you want dance or just nice background music. If you want a variety band the same jazz trio can then be expanded to a  7-10 big band (our most popular) for jazz swing dancing and even top 40 dance band covers.  Or, if you prefer we also have wedding DJs that can kick the party into high gear and play all the top songs that you want to dance to. Check out our new Los Angeles DJ/Band hybrids; these have become our very favorite bands. Why? Because the sound of the DJ/band in Los Angeles is like a 10 piece band but the cost of the band to you is only what you would pay for a 4 piece.

Check out our new DJ/Band Hybrid Bands now. Please go to http://www.rossimusic.biz/wedding-corporate-bands-los-angeles.php for general information about all of our ceremony musicians, cocktail ensembles, jazz bands, dance bands and DJs. For info on our Los Angeles Jazz Trios and Jazz Quartets go to http://www.rossimusic.biz/jazz-bands-los-angeles.php

How we book ceremony musicians for a Los Angeles wedding

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Los Angeles Wedding Ceremony MusicWorking with brides for almost 15 years has allowed us to simplify the booking process tremendously when hiring wedding ceremony musicians in Los Angeles. We have a checklist of questions to ask clients as well as a contract with all the necessary requirements for musicians in order to protect both parties. Our job is to guide the client in the right direction and advising a group that best fits their needs based on their event details.
Number of guests, age range, location, and equipment at the venue are only a few initial questions we ask before going into more specific questions about musical preference. Our website is designed with you in mind, for ease of accessibility and so you can enjoy browsing through our bands while envisioning your event. One of the first things we do in order to facilitate your decision is send players with our different ensemble combinations.
There are virtually limitless options when hiring Los Angeles wedding ceremony musicians. The most traditional choice is a string trio or quartet, although if your budget is really tight a duo or even solo classical musician works. If you are going with a duo, violin and cello is usually not favored over classical guitar and violin/flute, harp and flute/violin, or guitar and

voice. This is because a duo works best when one of the instruments is a chordal instrument (guitar, keyboard) as opposed to both being solo line instruments (violin, cello, flute, etc.).
Take a look at our different choices of ceremony musicians for your Los Angeles wedding. You will find original combinations you had no idea existed and if you listen carefully, you will notice certain songs work better with certain ensembles.
Get more info at Rossi Music at http://www.rossimusic.biz or CALL US NOW at 818-902-1233

Factors to consider when hiring a string trio or a string quartet for your Los Angeles event

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Los Angeles String Quartet

Photo of Los Angeles String Quartet playing a wedding in Huntington Beach

One of the first questions we ask at Rossi Music when we get a call inquiry is what kind of event you are having. This determines what group we will recommend. In Los Angeles, a string trio or string quartet is the preferred choice for weddings simply because of its versatility and price.

Price is a major decisive factor for most clients when choosing musicians for their Los Angeles wedding. For this reason, we at Rossi Music always recommend string trios and quartets.
Although we initially refer clients to our Los Angeles string quartet, sometimes their budget only allows for a string trio. What’s great is we have virtually the same repertoire for both combinations so it’s a win-win situation. Another reason why string ensembles are an excellent choice is their versatile repertoire allows for enough music for hours, and not just classical but pop, rock, top 40, and jazz. Other genres work great for the cocktail hour, and some brides even want pop/rock for the ceremony.
Something important to keep in mind when booking a group is that there is a 2 hour minimum, meaning you are already paying the musicians for 2 hours, so why not use them for the full 2 hours? This is an ideal option for weddings because you pay for only one ensemble but you have them for pre-ceremony, ceremony, and cocktail hour.
Get more info at Rossi Music at http://www.rossimusic.biz or CALL US NOW at 818-902-1233

 

Choosing non-traditional songs for a Los Angeles string quartet wedding ceremony

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Los Angeles String QuartetThere are many reasons for picking non-traditional songs for your wedding ceremony in Los Angeles with a string quartet. First of all, I need to make it clear that these are not rare or obscure pieces, but simply not the most popular classical ones such as Pachelbel “Canon in D” or Bach “Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring.” These are songs in other styles, like pop, rock, or even jazz.
When choosing non-traditional songs for your LA wedding, you are only limited by your creativity. The advantage here is you can select music that means something for you as a couple, rather than what will make your parents happy. It can be music reflective of your own life experiences and is relatable now.
What always surprises me when getting these requests is the amount of pieces that I usually thought would not fit at all and end up sounding lovely. Once, for example, the Los Angeles String Quartet paired up with a vocalist and performed “Let’s Stay Together” for a ceremony, and it was absolutely beautiful.
The Los Angeles String Quartet has been staying ahead of the trends and, in doing so, has a sizeable amount of popular tunes in their repertoire, so we always know what to recommend clients. Examples of unconventional pieces that sound great in a ceremony include: Jack Johnson “Better Together”, Beatles “Here Comes the Sun”, Etta James “At Last”, and one of the most often requested, Beatles “All You Need is Love” (played as a recessional).
Take advantage of our sample playlist and our YouTube channel “rossimusicbooking” for more suggestions of excellent song choices for your Los Angeles wedding with a string quartet!
Get more info at Rossi Music at http://www.rossimusic.biz or CALL US NOW at 818-902-1233

Hair and makeup for the Electric Angels Los Angeles String Quartet gig at the Bindery

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Electric Angels Los Angeles Rock String QuartetApril was a very important month for the Electric Angels Los Angeles Rock String Quartet; it marked their debut performance at the Bindery and set the bar for future shows. Although it was stressful to get an hour and a half of music ready plus the tracks recorded, now we are prepared for any gig that comes our way.
One privilege that we had in this gig that ends up being a rare treat is having hair and makeup artists on site. Usually as a musician you are required to either show up in full hair and makeup or you will have enough time between sound check and downbeat to get it done. However, for this gig the client Randy Fuhrman wanted a very specific look for the musicians. He even considered buying a dress for each girl so they were all wearing exactly the same thing. However, we always encourage clients – for practical purposes and to cut their expenses – to use the wardrobe choices the girls have, which are normally close enough in style.
Randy wanted a “punk” look for the Electric Angels Los Angeles String Quartet and wanted them to wear white. White is a very classy look while also being a little edgier than black. He also wanted them to have crystals in their face, which was unique and elegant at the same time. They each had a different arrangement of facial crystals, so the girls ended up looking like moveable paintings. As far as hair, they were mostly up, some to the side. Our short haired Angel had a mohawk look, while our ponytailed EA’s hairs were teased enough to look like a half afro. A picture of the girls is featured in this blog. Their hair actually didn’t take much time to do, since teasing it already mostly did the trick of adding volume and making it look disorderly in a cool way, or punk! All of us were pleased with how great our Angels looked.
Get more info at Rossi Music at http://www.rossimusic.biz or CALL US NOW at 818-902-1233

Electric Angels Los Angeles String Quartet debut performance at the Bindery!

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Los Angeles String Quartet Electric AngelsIt’s an exciting time for Rossi Music. Last month, our Los Angeles Electric Angels rock string quartet had its debut performance at the Book Bindery in Culver City in a beautiful event for Randy Fuhrman. It was a great opportunity for us to buckle down and get an hour and a half of music and tracks ready for our group. Some of these videos are already on our Facebook page (link to FB page) so please check it out and like our page to keep updated with our news!

Our repertoire was loosely picked based on our string quartet videos Randy had seen on YouTube and our website. We expanded our list of tunes and created a playlist that featured a combination of classic rock and contemporary pop. The audience really responded to both very well, since there was a wide age range present. We also included ballads so our girls could rest and to create a change of pace as well. Some of our favorite arrangements were Coldplay “Clocks”, Adele “Rolling in the Deep”, Bruno Mars “Just the Way You Are”, and Sting “Every Little Thing She Does.”

Set on a circular stage in the middle of the room, the Electric Angels were very interactive with the crowd and also moved around amongst themselves a lot, making this an extremely visually pleasing experience. They could best be described as “moveable sculptures.” Following their performance, the guests moved to a banquet hall with several food stands and the music changed to jazz. It was a hugely successful event and the Electric Angels Los Angeles String Quartet were thrilled to be a part of it!

Get more info at Rossi Music at http://www.rossimusic.biz or CALL US NOW at 818-902-1233

Favorite songs for Los Angeles string quartet wedding ceremonies

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Los Angeles wedding ceremony musiciansThe wedding ceremony is the most romantic and real part of a wedding. It’s also the most intimate, and often where music plays the most important part. However, it can feel daunting for a bride and groom to choose the songs they are walking down the aisle to for their Los Angeles string quartet wedding if they’re not familiar with classical music. Our job at Rossi Music is to make you and your family feel at ease and guide you through the process. All you need to know is what feeling you want to set to the ceremony. We have a player with samples of classical ceremony selections that you can browse. Firstly, though, you should decide what category of classical you prefer: traditional, light classical, more stately, prettier and more flowery, etc…

Each style has its advantages. For example, if choosing traditional you will have songs that virtually all of your guests will recognize and probably relate to. With light classical, the mood will be pleasant throughout but on the other hand all of the selections will be similar. Stately pieces are a little more serious and with a march-like tempo, much like the music that is played at royal dinners or teas. There are also the prettier pieces, the ones that sound flowery and evoke memories of seasons like spring or being in the outdoors.

One of the most well-known classical pieces, and by far the most often played for the bridal entrance, is Pachelbel’s Canon in D. You may initially prefer to steer away from the most popular selections, but one thing to keep in mind is this music is popular for good reason. A canon is a theme that repeats in different voices, and the amount of variety that the theme goes through with Pachelbel is really amazing. The most complete version is the original string quartet one, however if your budget is tight you might only be able to afford a duo or trio. Like many pieces written in that time (pre-1700), it was quickly forgotten and only became popular hundreds of years later. One great advantage of the Canon is that, if played correctly, it is neither fast nor slow so you don’t have to worry about setting a solemn mood for the happiest day of your life.

J.S. Bach is a composer full of traditional ceremony favorites. His arias, bourrees, ariosos, airs, and the like, many written for church, are beautifully harmonized with touching melodies. They make for wonderful pre-ceremony and ceremony selections. The ones you surely would know as soon as you heard them are “Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring” and “Air on the G String.” Jesu offers the same advantage of Canon as far as tempo, while Air on the G String is definitely a more serene piece. Another hugely popular tune is Satie’s Gymnopedie. You might not have heard this one but it’s one we get requested a lot.

It’s a good idea to alternate between slow and fast. This also applies to pre-ceremony music, but usually musicians will know to do that without being requested to. I encourage you to do more of your own research for popular string quartet ceremony music for Los Angeles weddings, as this blog just scratches the surface. Look for the most famous composers and their pieces. A lot of  the most played tunes, though, are by composers who only have one or two “hits,” so keep that in mind.

We at Rossi Music are always happy to hear from you and would love to advise you as far as your selection. Please do not hesitate to call us with any questions you may have, and take a look at our extensive variety of string quartets and groups as well as our other Los Angeles ensembles!

Get more info at Rossi Music at http://www.rossimusic.biz or CALL US NOW at 818-902-1233.