Gabriel Datcu - Jazz,Latin,Pop,Top40s Solo & w/ Ensembles
Private Event M.Jackson Cover - Pop
Black Bird - Wedding Ceremony Prelude
Millenium Park Pritzker Stage Private Dinner Event Solo Guitar
Classical Guitar Bach Partita for Violin Tempo di Borea
My arrangement of Cinema Paradiso Movie Soundtrack
Jazz Guitar Standard (Benny Golson/Along Came Betty)
Jazz Trio (promo from Odyssey Cruise Ship Private Event)
Classical Solo Guitar
French & Manouche Jazz Trio
Bohemian Rhapsody Excerpt.
Classical Wedding Music Medley
Jazz Trio Private Event on Elite Cruise Ship
Despacito Cover with Quartet (private event on Elite Ship)
Dueling Guitars - Chakra Khan's Through the Fire
Vocal and Guitar
Stahl Family Theatre Concert . Fall 2017.
She'd Aquarium Gala of Trustees. 2017 Summer.
Biggs Mansion - Jack Daniels/Frank Sinatra Celebration
Biggs Mansion - Jack Daniels/Frank Sinatra Event
Biggs Mansion Gold Coast Chicago
House of Blues Concert with R&B Artist - Jason Ferg 2017
Shedd Aquarium Gala of Trustees Event 2017
Overview
20+ years performing experience internationally employing a wide array of genres. Past & recent venues : House of Blues, Jazz Showcase, Green Mill, Chicago Theatre, The Metropolitan Club of Willis-Sears Tower, The Peninsula, Shedd Aquarium, Park Hyatt, City Winery, Millenium Park-Pritzker Stage, McKormic Place. Audiences from 50 to 3000+ people.
Reviews
77 reviews
Jireh M.
October 5, 2021DON’T THINK TWICE ABOUT BOOKING GABRIEL!
I had less than two weeks to find a musician that would
suit my taste and what I was envisioning for my wedding. I play music myself, and been around professional players as a singer, so I had a hard time finding one that would impress me and suit my budget because my ears just know a good one. I feel very blessed having found Gabriel in a very reasonable price ( honestly he can be charging way more than he did). He’s not afraid of getting song requests and adjusting them in different keys ( I sang for my husband while he was playing Nearness of You) He made it sound so sweet and sultry at the same time. This guy plays with texture, and not all the players can produce emotion in their music. He plays with technicality and feelings. I am planning to book him again for future events. He responds and communicate promptly. So professional in every way!
Thank you again Gabriel so so much!
Hired as: Classical Guitarist, Guitarist, Live Artwork
Elmer S.
April 17, 2017Perfect!
We contracted Gabriel for our Easter Brunch, and were very, very happy with the results. He played mostly adaptations of Top 40 songs the past couple decades. I was pleasantly surprised by the number of guests who asked if he was coming back, or simply expressed how impressed they were. Booking was a cinch, even with a somewhat short lead time. I would highly recommend Gabriel for any occasion.
Hired as: Guitarist
Viktoriia S.
July 13, 2026The best decision we made for our wedding reception
We couldn’t have asked for a better musician for our wedding reception! From the very beginning, Gabriel was incredibly professional, responsive, and a pleasure to work with. He answered all of our questions, communicated clearly throughout the planning process, and made everything so easy.
Gabriel and Ian, the cellist, arrived well before the reception to make sure everything was ready, and they were both kind, friendly, and incredibly professional. Gabriel asked about our music preferences beforehand to make sure the repertoire matched the atmosphere we wanted.
We originally booked them for three hours, but as the evening was coming to an end, we simply couldn’t imagine the reception without their music. We asked if they would be willing to stay for one more hour, and thankfully they agreed. We were so happy they did.
Throughout the reception, they created the most beautiful atmosphere. Their talent truly elevated the entire evening, and our family and friends couldn’t stop complimenting them or asking where we found such amazing musicians.
Looking back, we genuinely believe they were one of the highlights of our reception. Their music created such a warm, elegant, and joyful atmosphere that made the evening feel truly special. We are so grateful Gabriel was part of our wedding and would recommend him without hesitation. Thank you for making our celebration unforgettable!
Hired as: Classical Duo, Guitarist, Pop Music
Patti M.
May 31, 2026The Very Best
Gabriel was amazing! Made our rehearsal dinner event one guests are still talking about. He makes an event extraordinary, brings an unsurpassed classy, fun vibe. Highly recommend, thank you Gabriel for making our event incredible.
Hired as: Guitarist
Rodney F.
May 24, 2026Choose This Guy!
5 stars all around.
Gabriel was timely, a great communicator, a real class act.
He recognized immediately what our guests wanted and he delivered.
He’s a very talented musician, my new go to for event entertainment.
Hired as: Classical Guitarist, Guitarist, Jazz Guitarist, One Man Band
Booking information
Price range: Contact for pricing
Languages: English, Romanian
Gig length: 45 - 500 minutes
Insurance: $2,000,000 - Mercer Insurance.
Unions: AFM
What to expect
Arrival 45 min to 1hr prior to call time.
Personal amplification equipment and additionally able to provide by request amplification/microphone for speaker or officiant.
Attire - suit and tie unless otherwise requested.
Repertoire may includes a mix of styles and variety of tempos from jazz to contemporary popular and current radio hits.
Special song requests are always welcome prior to the events and feasible pending sheet music available at (link hidden)e or (link hidden)
About
Gabriel Datcu is a versatile guitarist incorporating styles from Classical to Jazz, Latin, Funk, R&B, Motown, Acoustic Rock to current top40s hits.
He is actively performing locally as well as nationally. Some of the past and current performing venues include Pritzker Stage, Grant Park, Jazz Showcase, City Winery, Shedd Aquarium, Willis-Sears Tower's Metropolitan Club, The Peninsula Hotel, House of Blues, and Chicago Theatre . With over 20 years of performing experience, Gabriel has successfully provided live entertainment either as a solo guitarist or with ensembles in USA and Europe. Several of the events and clients served have been: Marubeni-Citizen, Morgan-Chase, BP Amoco, Lake County Bar Foundation, Bank of America, Hampton by Hilton (Florida) and Switzerland Governor's Party (year 2000) in the city of Bern.
Additional booking notes
Can provide DJ stage lights as well as amplification system (speakers, stands, microphone) .
Personal Instrument amplification included at all performances.
If outdoors and sunny or humid, some type of covering might be requestsed as well as temperature requirements for cold seasons must be 60+ ( or outdoor heater may be requested) so that the instrument may stay in tune during performance.
Services offered
Past booked events
July 2026
11
Saturday
Wedding Reception
6:30pm - 9:30pm
•
Chicago, IL
May 2026
23
Saturday
Cocktail Party
7:00pm - 10:00pm
•
New Buffalo, MI
15
Friday
Rehearsal Dinner
7:00pm - 9:00pm
•
Madison, WI
March 2026
19
Thursday
Corporate Event
9:30am - 9:45am
•
Des Plaines, IL
07
Saturday
Personal Occasion
11:30am - 11:45am
•
South Holland, IL
05
Thursday
Fundraiser
6:00pm - 7:30pm
•
Wheaton, IL
February 2026
15
Sunday
Children’s Birthday Party
3:00pm - 6:00pm
•
Chicago, IL
January 2026
17
Saturday
Personal Occasion
1:30pm - 2:30pm
•
New Berlin, WI
September 2025
30
Tuesday
Corporate Event
8:00pm - 12:00am (Wed)
•
Chicago, IL
August 2025
07
Thursday
Corporate Event
5:00pm - 8:00pm
•
Milwaukee, WI
July 2025
17
Thursday
Cocktail Party
6:00pm - 7:30pm
•
Chicago, IL
07
Monday
Funeral/Memorial Service
10:00am - 11:00am
•
Kalamazoo, MI
June 2025
28
Saturday
Corporate Event
10:00am - 12:30pm
•
Naperville, IL
May 2025
09
Friday
Fundraiser
6:00pm - 9:00pm
•
Chicago, IL
April 2025
07
Monday
Corporate Event
5:30pm - 9:00pm
•
Chicago, IL
January 2025
31
Friday
Corporate Event
12:00pm - 4:00pm
•
Orland Park, IL
December 2024
18
Wednesday
Funeral/Memorial Service
10:00am - 11:30am
•
Chicago, IL
October 2024
06
Sunday
Wedding Ceremony
4:00pm - 5:00pm
•
Milwaukee, WI
August 2024
23
Friday
Funeral/Memorial Service
11:00am - 12:30pm
•
Algonquin, IL
06
Tuesday
Corporate Event
5:00pm - 6:30pm
•
Chicago, IL
June 2024
06
Thursday
Cultural Event
5:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Beaver Dam, WI
03
Monday
Corporate Event
5:00pm - 9:00pm
•
Indianapolis, IN
May 2024
31
Friday
Funeral/Memorial Service
6:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Pewaukee, WI
April 2024
14
Sunday
Corporate Event
6:00pm - 9:00pm
•
Minneapolis, MN
08
Monday
Product Promotion
5:00pm - 8:00pm
•
Chicago, IL
March 2024
24
Sunday
Baby Shower
1:30pm - 3:30pm
•
Niles, MI
February 2024
14
Wednesday
Dinner Party
6:00pm - 10:00pm
•
Chicago, IL
December 2023
24
Sunday
Christmas Party
5:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Lake Villa, IL
17
Sunday
Christmas Party
2:30pm - 5:00pm
•
Thiensville, WI
October 2023
24
Tuesday
Corporate Event
2:30pm - 5:00pm
•
Crystal Lake, IL
12
Thursday
Funeral/Memorial Service
1:00pm - 3:00pm
•
Madison, WI
September 2023
22
Friday
Nonprofit Event
11:30am - 11:45am
•
San Francisco, CA
08
Friday
Corporate Event
10:00am - 1:30pm
•
Madison, WI
01
Friday
Surprise
6:00pm - 6:15pm
•
Baraboo, WI
August 2023
29
Tuesday
Corporate Event
4:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Brookfield, WI
June 2023
25
Sunday
Funeral/Memorial Service
11:00am - 1:00pm
•
Glenview, IL
24
Saturday
Retirement Party
4:30pm - 8:30pm
•
Dyer, IN
March 2023
08
Wednesday
Corporate Event
5:00pm - 6:00pm
•
Chicago, IL
February 2023
04
Saturday
Birthday Party
7:30pm - 9:00pm
•
Naperville, IL
03
Friday
Wedding Reception
5:00pm - 11:00pm
•
Madison, WI
January 2023
13
Friday
Dinner Party
6:30pm - 9:00pm
•
Wood Dale, IL
09
Monday
Funeral/Memorial Service
4:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Naperville, IL
December 2022
20
Tuesday
House Party
6:30pm - 8:30pm
•
Thiensville, WI
16
Friday
Corporate Event
12:00pm - 1:30pm
•
Milwaukee, WI
10
Saturday
Christmas Party
9:00pm - 11:00pm
•
Wisconsin Dells, WI
October 2022
27
Thursday
Corporate Event
6:00pm - 9:00pm
•
Long Grove, IL
22
Saturday
Corporate Event
6:00pm - 9:00pm
•
Grand Rapids, MI
July 2022
31
Sunday
Birthday Party
6:00pm - 9:00pm
•
Brookfield, WI
03
Sunday
Birthday Party
7:30pm - 9:30pm
•
Naperville, IL
June 2022
26
Sunday
Anniversary Party
4:30pm - 7:00pm
•
Chicago, IL
15
Wednesday
Grand Opening
4:00pm - 6:30pm
•
Milwaukee, WI
09
Thursday
Corporate Event
4:30pm - 8:00pm
•
New Lenox, IL
January 2022
07
Friday
Christmas Party
7:00pm - 10:00pm
•
Appleton, WI
October 2021
19
Tuesday
Corporate Event
11:00am - 2:00pm
•
Chicago, IL
September 2021
25
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
11:30am - 12:30pm
•
Niles, IL
May 2021
05
Wednesday
Holiday Party
5:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Chicago, IL
February 2021
14
Sunday
Holiday Party
1:00pm - 3:00pm
•
Chicago, IL
January 2021
29
Friday
Birthday Party
7:00pm - 10:00pm
•
Delafield, WI
August 2020
08
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
1:00pm - 2:00pm
•
Whiting, IN
February 2020
25
Tuesday
Holiday Party
12:00pm - 12:45pm
•
Lombard, IL
November 2019
13
Wednesday
Surprise
8:30pm - 8:45pm
•
Naperville, IL
July 2019
12
Friday
Restaurant/Bar Event
6:30pm - 8:30pm
•
South Barrington, IL
September 2018
25
Tuesday
Cocktail Party
6:30pm - 8:00pm
•
Schaumburg, IL
August 2018
10
Friday
Wedding Ceremony
4:30pm - 5:30pm
•
Palos Heights, IL
01
Wednesday
Cocktail Party
6:00pm - 8:00pm
•
Chicago, IL
July 2018
22
Sunday
Birthday Party
6:00pm - 8:00pm
•
River Hills, WI
14
Saturday
Cocktail Party
6:00pm - 8:00pm
•
Loves Park, IL
08
Sunday
Cruise Ship Event
12:00pm - 6:00pm
•
Chicago, IL
June 2018
24
Sunday
Wedding Cocktail Hour
11:30am - 12:30pm
•
Chicago, IL
May 2018
20
Sunday
Cocktail Party
8:30pm - 11:00pm
•
Chicago, IL
December 2017
18
Monday
Funeral/Memorial Service
11:00am - 12:30pm
•
Chicago, IL
October 2017
18
Wednesday
Corporate Event
5:00pm - 8:00pm
•
Chicago, IL
05
Thursday
Launch Party
11:00am - 1:00pm
•
Northbrook, IL
September 2017
23
Saturday
Personal Occasion
9:00am - 9:30am
•
Evanston, IL
June 2017
09
Friday
Birthday (Adult)
6:00pm - 8:00pm
•
Batavia, IL
January 2017
28
Saturday
The Peninsula Hotel - The Magnificent Mile
6:00pm - 11:00pm
27
Friday
The Peninsula Hotel - The Magnificent Mile
6:00pm - 11:00pm
27
Friday
The Metropolitan Club - Willis/Sears Tower
5:00pm - 7:00pm
21
Saturday
The Peninsula Hotel - The Magnificent Mile
6:00pm - 11:00pm
20
Friday
The Peninsula Hotel - The Magnificent Mile
8:00pm - 11:00pm
20
Friday
The Metropolitan Club of Willis/Sears Tower
5:00pm - 7:00pm
14
Saturday
The Peninsula Hotel - Magnificent Mile
9:00pm - 11:00pm
14
Saturday
The Allegro Hotel - Downtown Chicago
5:00pm - 8:00pm
13
Friday
The Peninsula Hotel - Magnificent Mile
8:00pm - 11:00pm
13
Friday
Metropolitan Club - Willis/Sears Tower 67th FL
5:00pm - 7:00pm
07
Saturday
The Chez - Magnificent Mile
5:00pm - 11:00pm
06
Friday
The Peninsula Hotel Magnificent Mile
6:00pm - 11:00pm
01
Sunday
Art Van Outlet - Downers Grove
12:00pm - 4:00pm
Set list
These are only a few selections of my repertoire containing hundreds of titles:
Bach, Vivaldi , Handel , Mendelsohn, Wagner
The Shape Of You - Ed Sheeran
Stay With Me - Sam Smith
You Are The Best Thing - Ray Lamontagne
Marry Me - Train / Bruno Mars
The Luckiest - Ben Folds
Thinking Out Loud - Ed Sheeran
I Choose You - Sarah Barreilles
Wake Me Up - Avicii
The Way I Am - Ingrid Michelson
Raise Your Glass - Pink
We Are Young - Fun
On My Mind - Adele
I Will Wait - Mumford and Sons
Sugar - Maroon5
Cheerleader - OMI
Talking Body - Tov Lo
We Found Love - Rihanna
Ain't It Fun - Paramore
A Thousand Years - Christina Perri
Better Together - Jack Johnson
Shut Up and Dance - Walk the Moon
Sugar - Maroon5
She's Always A Woman - Billy Joel
Just The Way You Are - Billy Joel
Isn't She Lovely - Stevie Wonder
My Cherie - Stevie Wonder
How Sweet It Is - James Taylor
Let's Stay Together - Al Green
Just The Two Of Us - Bill Withers
Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You - Frankie Valli
Kiss From a Rose - Seal
Rock With You - Michael Jackson
What's Going On - Marvin Gaye
You Are The Sunshine of My Life - Stevie Wonder
Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd
Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd
Lovesong - The Cure
And I Love Her - The Beatles
Here Comes The Sun - The Beatles
Josie - Steely Dan
Marry Me - Train
Happy Together - The Turtles
More Detailed list can be provided by request depending on your event needs . Special requests not present on my extended list are welcome.
Influences and inspiration
Most Jazz , Classical Latin/Brazilian Guitarists primarily as well as:
Tommy Emmanuel
Pat Metheny
John Scofield
Bill Frisell
Andy McKee
George Benson
Chet Atkins
The variety of my guitar styles is continuously expanding and is being influenced by most know prestigious artists and classic groups among which Radiohead, Red Hot Chilly Peppers, David Bowie to current Ed Sheeran, Mraz, Bruno Mars to name a few.
Setup requirements
Performance location is preferred to be not in the very proximity of exits or dooways. For solo , armless chair and power outlets close by are a necessity as well as for duos, trios.