Overview
B.D. Lenz is a guitarist extraordinaire and his band plays everything from lush jazz standards to high-energy jazz rock flavored with the infectious grooves of Latin and Funk.
This band can play in any configuration and instrumentation to fit your tastes and budget. We can play instrumentally and with vocals (male and/or female) and can play virtually any type of event.
Reasons to hire us:
• this band features some of the best musicians in the NY/NJ/Pa area
• we are VERY versatile (jazz, funk, Latin, blues, rock, Motown, etc)
• YES, we can play quiet!!
• we will be very accommodating to your event
• extremely professional and experienced
• we LOVE playing music :)
14 Reviews
B.D. set the right tone for our intimate cocktail party! He played a wonderful mix of music so regardless of your guests musical taste, they are bound to enjoy themselves. Would use him again!
Guitarist
Response from B.D. Lenz:
Thanks Terry - it was a pleasure to play such a nice event!
BD unfortunately was not available for my event date but coordinated a fantastic jazz duo with lead TW Sample on electric piano and Mimi on bass. They played for 3 hours during our cocktail-style engagement party and were just what I hoped for - very upbeat and smooth background tunes! BD was great to work with on scheduling - quick to reply to emails and professional. Thanks Gigsalad for the hook up!
Jazz Band
First time we ever hosted such an event at home, and BD’s guidance on how many instruments and even which instruments was invaluable. The music was terrific and perfect for the review.
Would highly recommend!!
Jazz Band
Great music, very professional trio, all my guests were impressed. The whole experience was carefree.
Jazz Band
Response from B.D. Lenz:
Chris, it was our pleasure to play for such a great party!
B.D. Lenz were amazing - super responsive and flexible when we were booking, turned up early, played amazing music (everyone told me they were fantastic - and we had a lot of musicians in the audience) and were generally great to deal with. Would definitely hire them for other events!
We hired a three piece band (B.D. on guitar, a bass player, and a drummer) for our garden wedding ceremony & cocktail hour and they were honestly incredible. Throughout the months before the wedding B.D. responded to my emails within hours at the most, and he was so open and flexible to our specific requests. I ask him to play a specific processional song less than a month in advance and they pulled it off with no problem.
The cocktail hour was one of the best parts of the whole day, everyone enjoyed jamming out to B.D. and his trio and people were actually disappointed (including my husband and I) when they packed up to leave and the DJ stepped in.
You will not regret hiring these guys, absolutely wonderful musicians and they were so pleasant and fun at the event, customer service can't be beat.
Blues Band, Cover Band, Guitarist, Soul Band
I hired B.D. & band for a corporate party in Philadelphia. He responded very quickly to every email I sent and was VERY accomodating to each request i asked of him. On top of that, his band was exremely talented - i heard compliments all night from party guests. I STRONGLY recommend you book this band.
Jazz Band, Jazz Guitarist
B.D. Lenz Band was THE best band I have encountered so far. B.D was informative, prompt, responsive from the initial email,and even though I didn't really give them clear direction, they knew exactly what type of environment to creat for my wedding reception. Everyone complimented on the music and our reception was trually exceptional b/c of their music.
Hands down B.D Lenz is the band to go!
Jazz Band
I had the good fortune to have Mr. Lenz and his group to play at my wedding reception recently. From the beginning, Mr. Lenz was cordial and professional. He responded to all of my correspondence promptly, was open to my ideas for musical styles, and made us feel that he was very experienced in performing in numerous venues.
Artistically, the group is first-rate. Their level of playing is inpressive, and they were able to adapt to the mood of the guests with regard to song selections. Their improvisational ability was wonderful. As a musician, I was able to appreciate their skill and expertise. I would highly recommend the BD Lenz Jazz Group without hesitation.
Angela Robinson
Jazz Band
BD and his band mates were excellent musicians, very courteous and professional. I highly recommend them.
Jazz Band, Blues Band
I found B.D. Lenz here on GigSalad and hired his band for a yearly corporate conference. They are excellent musicians and played music that was most appropriate for the evening. Would hire them anytime!
Jazz Band, Funk Band, Guitarist, Jazz Guitarist
These guys were wonderful - great musicians!!!
Jazz Band, Funk Band, Guitarist, Jazz Guitarist
I hired Mr. Lenz and his quartet for a corporate coctail reception. Their music was wonderful. I heard many compliments throughout the night and will definitely hire them again in the future.
Jazz Band, Guitarist
I hired B.D. Lenz and his band to play for my wedding recently. I cannot express how happy I was with their performance and professionalism. From the beginning, B.D. was responsive to all of my questions, concerns, and requests (and as a nervous bride I had alot!).
The played our coctail hour and dinner with some light jazz - very classy. Later in the night their singer joined in and they tore they roof off the place. They had people dancing all night. It was SO much fun!
Thank you B.D. & band. I highly recommend these guys to EVERYONE!
Jazz Band, Cover Band, Funk Band, Guitarist, Jazz Guitarist, Motown Group, Party Band, R&B Group, Soul Band
Booking Info
About
"...Part of the reason for his accessibility is that he not only fuses jazz and rock, he complements it with warm chords of funk, soul, and rhythm and blues..." – New York Times
B.D. Lenz is a jazz guitarist extraordinaire and his versatile band can do it all from quiet coctail to raging parties. He has released 9 nationally acclaimed recordings, has performed thousands of gigs internationally, and his music has been featured on hundreds of TV shows globally . His band can play in any configuration and instrumentation to fit your tastes and budget. We play instrumentally or with vocals (male and/or female).
Services include:
*Jazz combos (1-7 pieces)
*Vocal band (with male and/or female vocals)
*Solo instrumentalists (guitar/piano/saxophone)
Reasons to hire us:
** this band features some of the best musicians in the NY area
** we are VERY versatile (jazz, funk, Latin, blues, rock, Motown, etc)
** YES, we can play quiet!!
** we will be very accommodating to your event
** extremely professional and experienced
** we LOVE playing music :)
Additional Booking Notes
we are completely self contained and come with our own P.A. system
Services Offered
Past Booked Events
| May 05, 2018 • 6:00pm - 9:00pm | Cocktail Party |
| March 24, 2018 • 7:30pm - 10:30pm | Cocktail Party |
| January 20, 2018 • 8:00pm - 10:00pm | Birthday Party |
| April 29, 2017 • 7:00pm - 10:00pm | Birthday (Adult) |
| December 15, 2016 • 6:00pm - 9:00pm | Corporate Event |
| December 08, 2015 | Holiday Party (Christmas) |
| September 21, 2015 | Cocktail Party |
| September 12, 2015 | Festival |
| September 10, 2015 | Cocktail Party |
| August 27, 2015 | Corporate Event |
| August 14, 2015 | Grand Opening |
| June 13, 2015 | Nonprofit Event |
| June 21, 2014 | Wedding Reception |
Set List
-----------------------------------------------------
*** INSTRUMENTAL *** - (selected list)
------------------------------------------------------
All Blues - Miles Davis
All the Things You Are - Hammerstein/Kern
Alone Together - standard
Autumn Leaves - standard
Blue Bossa - Kenny Durham
Body and Soul - standard
Change The World - E. Clapton
Don't Know Why - Norah Jones
F Blues - standard
The Girl From Ipanema - A.C. Jobim
How Insensitive - A.C. Jobim
Imagine - John Lennon
I Shot the Sheriff - Bob Marley
In a Sentimental Mood - Duke Ellington
Juxtaposition - B.D. Lenz
Lazy Bones - B.D. Lenz
Like Someone in Love - Jimmy VanHeusen
Little Wing - Jimi Hendrix
Lucky Southern - Keith Jarrett
Mercy, Mercy, Mercy - Joe Zawinal
My One and Only Love - standard
New York State of Mind - Billy Joel
Oleo - Sonny Rollins
People Get Ready - Curtis Mayfield
Someday My Prince Will Come - standard
Stella By Starlight - Victor Young
Straight No Chaser - T. Monk
St. Thomas - Sonny Rollins
Superstition - Stevie Wonder
Tears in Heavan - Eric Clapton
True Colors - Cyndi Lauper
Triste - A.C. Jobim
Wave - A.C. Jobim
Windows - Chick Corea
Wind Cries Mary - Jimi Hendrix
-------------------------------------------------------------------
*** VOCAL BAND *** - (selected list)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Ashford & Simpson
Ain't No Sunshine - Bill Withers
Ain't No Stoppin Us Now - Disco
All About that Bass - Meghan Trainor
Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
Boogie on Reggae Woman - Stevie Wonder
Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison
Brick House - Commodores
Crazy - Gnarls Barkley
Cruisin' - Smokey Robinson
Dock of the Bay - Otis Redding
Don't Know Why - Norah Jones
Fly Me To the Moon - Frank Sinatra
Forget You - CeeLo
Georgia on My Mind - Hoagy Carmichael
Happy - Pharrell
Heard it Through the Grapevine - Motown
Higher Ground - Stevie Wonder
How Sweet It Is - James Taylor
I Feel Good - James Brown
In My Life - Beatles
Isn't She Lovely - Stevie Wonder
I Shot the Sheriff - Bob Marley
I Wish - Stevie Wonder
Jump Jive and Wail - Louis Prima
Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye
Let's Stay Together - Al Green
My Way - Sinatra
No Woman No Cry - Bob Marley
Old Time Rock and Roll - Bob Seger
Play That Funky Music - White Cherry
Pride and Joy - Stevie Ray Vaughn
Rolling in the Deep - Adele
September - Earth, Wind, & Fire
Sex Machine - James Brown
Signed, Sealed, Delivered - Stevie Wonder
Superstitious - Stevie Wonder
The Way You Look Tonight - ala Frank Sinatra
Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson
Use Me - Bill Withers
Whats Goin' On? - Marvin Gaye
Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton
What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
You Are the Sunshine of My Life - Stevie Wonder
Team
| B.D. Lenz | guitar/bandleader |
| Lelica Palecco | vocals |
| Justin Wade | vocals |
| Geoff Mattoon | sax/wind controller |
| Dan Paul | piano/keys |
| James Rosocha | bass |
| Kevin Soffera | drums |
Influences & Inspiration
too many to list! Our influences range from Jazz to rock to funk to Motown to Reggae to everything else!!
Setup Requirements
Nearby power source
Testimonials
A solid guitarist and composer
– Zan Steward
"["Straight Up"]...is so there, so ideal, so darn near perfect that it makes a listener want to head straight up there in a pilgrimage to quality
– Bob Gish
Lenz has mastered his instrument and his confidence overflows everywhere...
– All About Jazz
With a heart for jazz and the ability to diversify his musicianship Lenz may
someday be an icon...
– Robert Price
Today, Lenz brings together his
interests in funk, soul, R&B, rock and jazz together in his music, which is clearly indebted to the influences of
(Mike) Stern and (Pat) Metheny
– Robert Hicks
[Lenz is of the] ...20 New Jersey musicians - 40 and under-who should be a big part of the state's jazz future
– George Kanzler
part of the reason for his accessibility is that he not only fuses jazz and rock, he complements it with warm chords of funk, soul, and rhythm and blues...
– Robbie Woliver
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