TESTIMONIALS
“Our introduction to Crazy Rhythm was at the Friday
night set in
“Everyone
enjoyed the band immensely. You
can't imagine how many people made it a point to thank me for bringing you; one
of our members from
“I noticed how many teenagers and young people
danced to you're (sic) hot syncopated band, they danced swing style. I am a DJ
at various swing clubs in Southern Cal, and so I picked up your CD "One
Hour With You" I played "Charleston" and "Cotton Club
Stomp" at a swing club, and everyone loved it, in fact over half a dozen
people asked me who I was playing, and where they could get the CD…by the end
of the evening I had so many requests for more songs by CRHSO I ended up playing
half of the CD, I don't even think those teenager swing dancers realized they
were swing dancing to hot jazz from the 20's…you are the most authentic of all
the bands I've seen at the Dixieland and Trad festivals.” - Val
Rosing, DJ, KSBR radio
“Just
sit back and listen – you’ll be listening to the best of the 20’s and
30’s. No festival would be complete without them.” – Hal
Schoetteger, Director, Big
“On
Behalf of the Ahwahnee Hotel 75th Anniversary Committee, I’m
pleased to express our appreciation to you and the orchestra…The CRHSO was
perfect for the costume tea-dance in our Great Lounge, and our guests gave you
rave reviews. Thanks for re-creating the look, feel, and sound of my favorite
era in popular music. For a short time… the architecture of the Ahwahnee felt
complete.” - Tom Bopp, Ahwahnee Hotel,
“The on-board band reminded me of that early 1930's tune, Happy Days
Are Here Again. They hail from
“They
(CRHSO) are fantastic!”
- Peninsula
Committee for the
“This
band is precision, and they play just exactly like they used to play in the
twenties. The band plays things just exactly the way they’re supposed to be…
just exactly right, just the way it should be. The first time I heard this band
they played one tune, I had some place to go, but I skipped out and I sat there
and I listened… I think they’re just wonderful!” – the late Rosy McHargue, then 95-year-old legendary musician, professional since
1917, played with Ted Weems, Kay Kyser, Benny Goodman, Pete Daily, Red Nichols,
Pee Wee Hunt and sat in with everybody else at one time or another.
“Henebry
has scouted the oldest recordings of Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway and others and
transcribed them for his ensemble. He established the authenticity of each song
by airing the opening moments of the original, then having his band fade into
the music. The effect could be uncanny, as when the group came up behind the
1928 Ellington Orchestra playing ‘The Mooch.’” - Bill Kohlhasse, Entertainment Editor,
“This
(CRHSO) is a Hotsy Totsy band! As good at what they do as the Jan Garber band
was.” -
Memo Bernaby, band
leader, former member Jan Garber Orchestra
“For
Openers, Ginger Pauley, dressed to kill, did her best killer Catherine
Zeta-Jones doing ‘All That Jazz’ straight from the soundtrack of the
prize-winning movie, ‘
“Your
recordings knocked my sox off! Would like to write story on you and the
band for national publications.” - Jack Lebo, nationally syndicated columnist, and
publisher of Big Band Report
“We
would like to see your group play at more festivals in northern
“Best
Band ever to play on our stage!”
- Carl Goodwin,
President,
“Your
CRHSO was a smash hit… Everyone left in such a happy mood, after hearing your
excellent musicians bring back such fond memories. We have had several great
groups entertain us and I vote you #1. Should you need any recommendations, we
shall be happy to give them.”
- Norma
Gilchrist, President, Friends of Oasis
“Wonderful,
Marvelous band. Loved singing with you!” - Roberta
Linn, recording artist, original “Champagne Lady” with Lawrence Welk
“…the
CRHSO is a leading purveyor of the
orchestral “Twenties” style…Wherever the Crazy Rhythm Hot Society
Orchestra appears, the room is always filled with smiling faces responding to
the happy music of the ‘20’s.”
- Floyd Levin,
jazz critic
“…Leader
Mike Henebry does a remarkable job of keeping the orchestra sharp and precise,
recreating a late 1920s dance orchestra. Nattily dressed in wide brim Panama
hats, pin stripe shirts, and matching dark trousers, ties, and suspenders, they
not only looked 1920s right, boy did they play 1920s right!
Henebry has a passion for authenticity of the actual 1920s arrangements,
performed with a pride of musicianship. He takes you back to the high-spirited
dancing days of flappers, Model Ts, hooch, and great music… part of the fun
was watching the enthusiastic dancers stepping to the high-energy rhythms. This
was a superb recording-quality performance that met the high expectations for
their music and entertainment” – Harvey
Barkan, columnist, “L.A. Jazz Scene” January, 2005
“You
have by far the best band at the festival (
"CRHSO is the greatest 20's band in the history of
music" – David
Manning, Sony Pictures
“…thoroughly
enjoyed your music and the dancing.” -
Stephen Bramall, Producer & Host KPCC radio
“Everyone
from the Valley who attended the recent Dixieland Jazz Festival of the Desert at
“What
a wonderful band! One of my very favorites!” – the
late Bob Epstein, KLON radio
“Everyone
is raving about (the CRHSO)… they have hit audiences like a bombshell all over
the west… listeners and dancers alike love both the sound and the staging of
this toe tapping group… they have become the darlings of the festival
circuit.” -
Bill Chase,
“Great
band, love your music, it brings back very fond memories” - Tommy “Butch” Bond, one of the original
“Little Rascals” and original “Jimmy Olsen” of “Superman” movies”
“You
will love the CRHSO… This is one of the hottest bands in
“A
band with musical appeal plus visual appeal” - Al
Bushman, President, Palm Springs Jazz Club
“On
behalf of the City of Temple City and more importantly, the hundreds of concert
enthusiasts, thank you for yet another outstanding performance! The crowd once
again arrived at the park early, claimed their seats and anticipated another
great concert performance. As to be expected, Crazy Rhythm Hot Society
Orchestra’s performance was a real crowd pleaser.” – Cathy Burroughs, Assistant City Manager,
“The
BEST!!” -
Jane Headley, President,
“The
hottest new band (1993) in
“(Expletive)
you guys are great!”
- Danny Davis,
actor, stunt man, band leader
“It
is my firm opinion that the “Crazy Rhythm Hot Society Orchestra” under the
direction of Mike Henebry is equal to or better than any professional band that
I have ever had the pleasure of listening to. I have been involved in music for
most of my 69 years and the performance the “Crazy Rhythms” gave at the
premier of the Valley Center “Maxine” Theater on Nov 19th (2005)
was without question at my top of any list of bands performing the music of the
1900’s through the end of the big band era. As a musician I played the French
horn throughout school, college and professional. This band is not only
outstanding in their music; they also put on an enjoyable inter-audience
performance. I shout “BRAVO” to Mike and his orchestra.
– Clyde
Childress,
“The
best band at the (
“The
best band of its kind in the world today!” -
Stanford Bennisch, KWIZ radio
“Great
music.” -
"…people
have just gone nuts over your music – playing everything 15 times…”
– Ross Robinson, DJ
“How
do you get the band to sound so tight? What an incredible band!” - Ian Whitcomb KPCC radio, Author, Composer, Musician, Singer, Actor,
Band Leader
“…
a wonderful band, so authentic. I enjoyed singing with you.” - Johnny Crawford, Actor, singer
“Tremendous
band! You sound even better in person!” - Ron
Petke, Programming Director, CVI Cable Television,
“The
only other band to have gotten a standing ovation like that brought their own
fan club!”
-
“One
of the best bands in the country!”
– the late Shorty
Behan, President, New Orleans Jazz Club,
"As
always, fabulous! That's what you and your band delivers - just fabulous shows.
Do plan on next year…"
- Connie & Larry Baker, SoCal JazzFest
“I
really enjoy what the Crazy Rhythm Hot Society Orchestra does, and how well they
consistently do it over time under your direction!.... Thanks for many
hours of classy entertainment. “ - Harvey
Barkan, "
“On
behalf of the City of
“We
loved the group again this year. Ginger was a hit! …AGAIN THANK YOU AND THE
BAND AND GINGER!” – Glenn Holtz, Director,
"Mike:
Your band sounds better than ever. Keep up the great job!" - Jack
Lebo, Showorld/Big Band Report
"We
enjoyed your show very much, such a great mixture and so entertaining!!" -
Jane Rattman,
“The
CRHSO is the best band in the history of music, and Henebry is clearly the best
band leader since the beginning of time!” – Armond Henebry (Mike’s mother)