- Location:
- Manhattan, New York
- Travel Radius:
- Will travel up to 3000 miles from Manhattan.
- Pay Range:
-
$600-$6000 per event
- Member Since:
- 2011
- Primary Category:
- Jazz Band
- Additional Categories:
- 20s Band, 30s Band, 40s Band, 50s Band, Americana Band, Big Band, Blues Band, Celtic Band, Dance Band, Folk Band, Irish Band, Jazz Orchestra, Oldies Band, Original Band, Rockabilly Band, Swing Band, Wedding Band
- Influences:
- Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong, Peggy Lee, Patsy Cline, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Hank Williams, Keely Smith & Louis Prima, Dean Martin, Django Reinhardt, Doris Day
Group Members
- Tara O'Grady - vocals, band leader
- Darren Wallis - guitar
- Dave Hofstra - upright bass
- Michael Hashim - alto, tenor saxophone
- Jordan Sandke - trumpet
- Various - clarinet
- Various - drums
- Various - piano
- Various - fiddle
- Various - accordian
Description
Tara O'Grady & The Black Velvet Band is a fun and romantic vintage jazz & swing band that will transport your event to the Golden Age of Hollywood. Hollywood Mega-Star Bruce Willis claimed, "I love this band!" as he sang along with Tara one night in Manhattan. "Visualize a Celt in the Cotton Club!" (Chris B. Donohue, Nashville Producer) Featured on an episode of TLC's Four Weddings, Tara's vocals have been compared to Billie Holiday, Aretha Franklin and Patsy Cline. As Irish Voice's Most Influential Woman 2010, Tara can lead her band as a lounge trio with guitar, upright bass and vocals, or add drums or sax for an ultra hip quartet or quintet. Her popular six or seven piece little big band with your choice of trumpet, clarinet, piano or fiddle will keep your party swinging all night long. And those retro threads - from pearls to peek-a-boo shoes, slinky gowns, dapper suits, and fedoras - keep all eyes on stage.
This dynamic band of elite NYC jazz musicians perform jazz standards and blues, but also swing some favorites from 1950s country and rock & roll, as well as an original twist on some Irish standards that sound like they've been reborn in the swing era. "Tara re-baptizes these songs into songs that are more part of the repertory of divas in smoky nightclubs. Her distinctive voice intrigues. At times it reminds us of Doris Day or Eva Cassidy." (Freddy Celis, Rootstime, Belgium)
In addition, her band can perform original jazz, blues and celtic influenced music reminiscent of Django Reinhardt and Ella Fitzgerald. Any combination of instrumentation or preference for music style can be arranged to suit your event and budget.
They have performed at Lincoln Center, The Astor Room, Swing 46, The Museum of the City of New York, The Jewish Museum, The Cupping Room, Bowery Wine Co., Battery Gardens, Valentino's and Mary O's, as well as private parties, weddings, and corporate events. Tara has also performed with various artists while touring in Ireland, Spain and Argentina.
Song List
- A Fine Romance - Fred Astaire
- All of Me - Billie Holiday
- Almost Like Being in Love - Nat King Cole
- Always - Patsy Cline
- Are You Lonesome Tonight - Elvis Presley
- Autumn Leaves - Keely Smith
- At Last - Etta James
- Bei Mir Bist Di Schon - Andrew Sisters
- Bewitched Bothered and Bewildered - Ella Fitzgerald
- Black Velvet Band - Irish traditional
- Black Coffee - Ella Fitzgerald
- Blue Moon - Billie Holiday
- Cheek to Cheek - Billie Holiday
- Come on a My House - Rosemary Clooney
- Cow Cow Boogie - Ella Fitzgerald
- Crazy - Patsy Cline
- Danny Boy - Irish traditional
- East of the Sun - Diane Krall
- Fever - Peggy Lee
- Fly Me to the Moon - Frank Sinatra
- Fram Fram Sauce - Nat King Cole
- Gee Baby Ain't I Good to You - Nat King Cole
- The Holy Ground - Irish trad
- I Can't Give You Anything But Love - Diana Krall
- I'll Tell Me Ma - Irish trad
- I Love Being Here With You - Diana Krall
- I Love You Honey - Patsy Cline
- I'm in the Mood for Love - Louis Armstrong
- It's All Right with Me - Cole Porter
- It Had to Be You - Frank Sinatra
- I Only Have Eyes For You - Peggy Lee
- I've Got the World on a String - Frank Sinatra
- I've Got you Under my Skin - Frank Sinatra
- La Vie En Rose - Edith Piaf
- Let's Fall in Love - Ella Fitzgerald
- Let's Get Away From it All - Frank Sinatra
- L-O-V-E - Nat King Cole
- Lover Man - Billie Holiday
- Lullaby of Birdland - Ella Fitzgerald
- The Man I Love - Billie Holiday
- Making Whoopee - Doris Day
- Mambo Italiano - Rosemary Clooney
- Molly Mallone - Irish trad
- Moondance - Van Morrison
- Moon River - Audrey Hepburn
- My Baby Just Cares for Me - Nina Simone
- My Funny Valentine - Chet Baker
- New York - New York
- Night and Day - Ella Fitzgerald
- Nice Work if You Can Get It - Billie Holiday
- Nora - Irish trad
- On a Slow Boat to China - Benny Goodman
- Over the Rainbow - Judy Garland
- Peggy Gordon - Irish trad
- Pennies from Heaven - Bing Crosby
- Route 66 - Nat King Cole
- San Antonio Rose - Patsy Cline
- Since I Fell for You - Nina Simone
- Stairway to the Stars - Glenn Miller
- Stardust - Nat King Cole
- Stars Fell on Alabama - Billie Holiday
- Stormy Weather - Lena Horne
- Summertime - Ella Fitzgerald
- Sway - Dean Martin
- Trouble in Mind - Nina Simone
- Tennessee Waltz - Hank Williams
- The Man I Love - Ella Fitzgerald
- They Can't Take That Away from Me - Ella Fitzgerald
- The Way you Look Tonight - Tony Bennett
- Walking After Midnight - Patsy Cline
- The Water is Wide - Irish trad
- What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
- What a Difference a Day Makes - Dinah Washington
- Why Don't You Do Right - Peggy Lee
- Wild Rover - Irish trad
- You'd Be So Nice to Come Home to - Diana Krall
- You're Nobody Til Somebody Loves You - Dean Martin
- Zing Went the Strings of My Heart - Judy Garland
Available For:
Anniversaries, Bachelor Parties, Bachelorette Parties, Banquets, Birthday Parties, Children's Birthday Parties, Celebrations, Christenings, Christmas Parties, Church Services, Clubs, Community Events, Conventions, Corporate Functions, Dinner Dances, Festivals, Fund Raisers, Funerals, Graduation Parties, Grand Openings, Halloween Parties, Picnic, Private Parties, Proms, Restaurants, Sweet 16 Parties, Weddings, Wedding Ceremonies, Wedding Cocktail Hours, Wedding Receptions...and more.
Feedback
- Tara and her band are absolutely superb. She's got an outstanding, beautiful and sultry voice, and her personality is so fun that the whole evening just sparkled with her at the helm. We hired the bass player, sax player and guitarist and they were the consummate professionals. Tara was gracious and lovely, and MAN, can she sing. YOu will NOT be disappointed with Tara. On the contrary, you'll just sit back and soak up all the complements from your guests who'll praise you for being smart enough to hire her. -- Lisa A, Brooklyn, NY, 3/10/2012
- Tara O'Grady & The Black Velvet Band made our evening a success. They were extremely talented, professional, and easy to work with. The entire experience was great, from booking to shaking hands at the end of the evening, if anyone is looking for a talented singer and band, then I would highly recommend Tara O'Grady & The Black Velvet Band for your event. -- Carrie-Anne G, Long Island, NY, 4/26/2012
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