“Fifth Avenue is the best wedding band ever! Our guests danced from the minute the doors opened until the last song, at which point a chant for ‘one last song!’ started. Not only were our friends (mid-20s) dancing but our families and parents’ friends were out on the dance floor, too. They honestly made the party!“
“Our guests RAVED about our band selection. The band had everyone on the dance floor and really created the celebratory atmosphere that we were hoping for. I wish I could have many more weddings just to have them come back.”
“In my opinion, the music at a reception can make or break the whole event. I did a LOT of research. I decided I liked 5th Avenue the most. They were superb! Everybody danced all night long.“
“Their performance was exceptional; the band members’ personalities were sparkling. They contributed to the joy of the day. I’m an attorney and I didn’t make things easy on them, i.e. I asked a lot of questions, negotiated contract terms, etc., but they were very accommodating…and then the band rocked the house!“
“Fifth Avenue was very flexible in customizing the playlist for us. The band was excellent. They are fantastic!”
“I think Fifth Avenue’s energy and diversity of music (the hora, 60s rock, recent hits, and classic slow songs) were really what made them special. They covered everything and there wasn’t a bad song all night.”
“Fifth Avenue Entertainment was easily one of the best wedding vendors we worked with. They were very flexible with our music playlist and wonderful at customizing and playing the song my father chose for our father/daughter dance song (which was a surprise to me). They were engaging with our guests and the music was outstanding.”
“Fifth Avenue provided a solo guitarist at the ceremony, a pianist at the cocktail hour, and a 9-piece band for the reception. We called, listened to, and visited the offices of several bands and Fifth Avenue was by far the friendliest and sounded the best—even compared to bands that were twice as expensive. They were extremely helpful during the planning process, giving us advice about songs and timing.”
Elegant, tasteful, exquisite. . . AND the greatest party ever—those are the wedding wishes that Fifth Avenue Orchestras & Entertainment fulfills again and again.
“Our daughter’s wedding took place in April, and a month later we’re still getting calls including wonderful praise for the orchestra,” exclaims an exhilarated pair of clients. “They set up early, stayed late and sounded great. The dance floor was packed all evening.”
Headed by award-winning musician George Banfalvi and recommended by many of southern California’s most prestigious venues, Fifth Avenue Orchestras & Entertainment offers an elite roster of cutting-edge musicians who play in what Los Angeles Magazine has called, “Southern California’s premier party bands.”
“Having come from the recording industry, our musicians and singers are driven to continually update and expand their repertoire,” says Banfalvi. “Music is the single most important element in a wedding, but in order to be successful, it’s got to be incredibly diversified, absolutely current, and above all—relevant. Along with the classic songs of the American landscape—Sinatra, Diana Krall, great swing music—today’s bridal couples want to hear the music that’s vital to their generations. In the end, we want everyone to be totally exhausted because they just can’t stop dancing,” laughs George.
Fifth Avenue, which has orchestrated performances for heads of state and Fortune 500 corporations throughout the U.S., along with their extensive wedding clientele, does not do assembly-line presentations. The challenge, as Banfalvi sees it, is to respect clients’ wishes and budgetary constraints while treating the music for each aspect of the wedding as a specialization.
It begins with the ceremony. Music sets the tone. Classical chamber ensembles connote elegance; keyboard or guitar ensembles underscore romance or theme; gospel choirs—like the one they used for the film, Leap of Faith—inspire hallelujahs and ethnic instrumentations celebrate diversity. All of these evoke feelings of family, spirituality and friendship. Then comes the cocktail hour, the prelude to partying. Although many clients favor light jazz, Fifth Avenue offers a plethora of musical combinations including small reggae bands, digital jazz, island calypso groups, passionate Gypsy Kings-style ensembles and a variety of cool vocal groups. And finally, there’s the reception. “Wedding reception music should reflect the bride and groom’s musical souls,” explains George. Whether it’s a front line of four singers who’ve been with Earth, Wind & Fire, a guitar player who sounds like Dave Matthews, a vocal/horn combo that conjures up the best of Tony Bennett or Nat King Cole, or any kind of groove music that creates the desire to get up and party, Fifth Avenue is pleased to provide it.
“George and his staff are the ultimate professionals,” says an admiring associate. “I’ve been in the entertainment business for 25 years and have worked with bands, orchestras and entertainment companies throughout the U.S. Fifth Avenue’s musicians are the best I have ever had the pleasure of working with. Their skill, talent and class are unsurpassed.”
“Wedding clients place the fate of their affair in our hands, and we’re grateful for that trust,” concludes George. “Seeing the look on a bride’s face as she watches her family and friends dancing, partying and being utterly joyous with each other—there’s nothing like it.”
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