Finding the right band

There are so many wedding music bands in NYC that it can be hard to know where to start. First, if you haven’t already, narrow down the kind of music that you’d like to hear. Pop, country, rock, jazz…? These days it’s easy to find bands with a simple Google search. If you’re reading this then that probably means you’re looking for a jazz band for your wedding. A jazz band is great for wedding reception music because it is classy, sophisticated and can lend a retro vibe to your wedding. What’s more, older relatives will really appreciate it and won’t be left out in the cold as can happen when bands play a lot of contemporary music. The Master Keys is great because it is an excellent jazz band that also does vintage blues and rock n roll. It’s a great and engaging mix for folks of all ages.

There is a lot to choose from if you want great jazz wedding music in New York City. When you search on the internet you will find a few websites such as Gigmasters where you can view different bands and then ask for them to bid on your event. If you look a bit deeper you will find many stand alone bands, maybe even this one! You’ll likely check out their videos and reviews. Many wedding musicians in NYC have great videos these days. It has become increasingly cheaper to produce good content. So if you see videos that seem out of date or of poor production quality, that can be a red flag that they aren’t staying current or even working that much. Apart from that, look to see that they present themselves well and that they are playing with the energy and enthusiasm you are looking for.

If you’re looking to hire the best wedding music bands, it is important to remember that some things can be hard to tell from the video. Most importantly, quality level and experience. Since the barrier for entry with video is so low now, there are many bands that can make a good looking video. But with good editing, it can be easy to obscure the musicians’ ability. There is a big difference between a musician fresh out of college and a seasoned professional. All the musicians in the Master Keys have conservatory training plus many years of New York experience between them.

Experience also means knowing the ins and outs of weddings. There are so many aspects of the event that happen off the bandstand: working with the planner and client, efficiency and timeliness, working with catering and other vendors as a team, serving as MC, staying alert and keeping cool under pressure. These are some some of the skills that I pride myself on as a bandleader and they can only come with years of professional New York experience. Contact us for hiring best wedding bands in New York City.

What sets us apart from other bands when it comes to weddings

Hiring live music for your wedding celebration can be one of the most rewarding decisions you’ll make as you plan your big night but there are so many New York City wedding bands to choose from that the options can be daunting. Here are a few tips for choosing a great one. 

First dance in Philadelphia

First, you need to decide on the aesthetic of your wedding if you haven’t already. Is it glamorous,  super casual, sporty, country, quaint/charming…? That will go a long way in helping you to decide what kind of band to go for. If you’re getting married in a fancy New York ballroom, then plaid table cloths and a country band won’t work obviously. They would go great, however, in a barn. Of course, you should hire a band that will play the music you want to hear but it’s worth noting if  the band is congruent with everything else. 

If you are looking for the best wedding bands in New York City then you have many options. There are many good “top 40 bands” around. They will typically play some jazz for cocktail hour (though the quality can vary greatly since many are primarily pop musicians) then play a Motown medley and then move on through the decades to the latest pop hits and invariably end with a Bruno Mars song! 

Lafayette Grill in NYC

This is a great option for many people but not everyone. First of all, maybe you don’t really want to hear Bruno Mars or Rhianna.  A wedding band in New York City will usually play that material but it often leaves relatives over 40 in the cold. And lastly, they all start to sound the same and maybe you want your wedding band to be different.

Peter & the Master Keys is one of the best wedding bands in NYC because we ARE a bit different.  We play classic American songbook jazz that is quintessentially New York and if you want, we can also play timeless blues, soul and RnB from the artists like Ray Charles, Fats Domino, and Chuck Berry.  You get the class and sophistication of having a swinging little big band at your reception and you get a band that plays great party music for dancing that won’t leave anyone out in the cold. Best of all, instead of a band just like all the other wedding bands you can have one that is fun and unique. 

Holiday videos are here!

I just wanted to share the first of the batch of three holiday videos that I’m releasing this year. I got together with the core of the band plus our friend, Vanessa Perea to make a little impromptu recording of some holiday classics to share with prospective clients. I think they turned out rather well! If you or someone you know is looking to spice up their holiday party with great live jazz music, please let me know!

We're big in Germany!

So about a month ago I got a call asking if I’d like to film a music video for an up-and-coming German music star. He’s like the Michael Buble of Germany you could say and he needed a band to appear in his breakthrough music video that was to be shot in NYC.

Well it sounded like it was worth a laugh at least and well, it was a paid gig on a Monday afternoon so what the heck! Turns out that the singer, Daniel has a nice voice and was cool to work with. We pantomimed his song probably 30 times over an hour or more in Terra Blues, a blues club on Bleeker street.

From all that footage we got a total of about 5 seconds in this music video haha! I must say the production is excellent though. It’s like a love story and it features NYC so predominantly that I almost wonder if the city’s tourism board was in on it! Anyway, check it out for yourself. It’s fun and pop-y and even a bit of an earworm even though I have no idea what he’s saying. Seems like he has some muscle behind him so I’ll look forward to hearing more from him in the future!Book jazz band for wedding reception for great environments.

If you want to fast forward, we appear at 1:09,1:27,1:43 and 2:12

Now featuring jazz vocalist Vanessa Perea

I'm really proud of the musicians I work with.  Over the past few years we've developed a reputation for versatility and excellence. That means that when someone really wants to hear traditional New Orleans style jazz, or Gatsby era jazz, the Master Keys happens to have on hand the best young players in that scene, many of whom have toured extensively with the world famous Hot Sardines.  Similarly with blues and vintage RnB, the band really excels with authentic 3 horn arrangements and players like Sam Raderman on guitar who embody the tradition of blues pioneers like T-bone Walker.

As versatile as we are sometimes people want to hear an exceptional female vocalist and that's something that I just can't do! That's why I'm pleased to announce that the acclaimed jazz singer, Vanessa Perea will be joining us on special occasions.  She is a master of the American Songbook and an all-around great performer and I think she'll be a great fit for cocktail hours and private events. Really, Vanessa with the Master Keys is a sure bet. I could listen to her sing for days and I think you'll agree as well!  BTW make sure you check out her fantastic duets with the Ladybugs. Book best Wedding Bands in New York City!!!

New photos from a jazz wedding reception at the Darien Community Association

We had a blast playing for Dan and Anna at the Darien Community Association this past May and I just got photos back to prove it!  Lacey Gabrielle is an amazing photographer and she was nice enough to share some of the photos she took.  Up til now I didn't have professional photos of the band playing a wedding with folks dancing in the foreground even though we've done a ton of weddings in the last year.  These look great but it's hard to capture the excitement of a live jazz wedding band at the reception! Of course we also played some great old rock 'n roll and throwback RnB like Ray Charles and Fats Domino when the time was right. 

The aunts love it! This jazz wedding band makes sure that folks are dancing.

The Master Keys is more than a great jazz wedding band. We also play a ton of great old RnB for dancing.

New Residency at the Rum House cocktail bar

The Rum House in Times square, NYC. Definitely the coolest bar in the area. Home to some of the best cocktails around.

I'm pleased to announce a new residency at the Rum House, definitely the coolest bar in Times Sq. Not that there is much competition but it's kind of the only place I like to go around there. The cocktails are inventive and top notch and the decor is old school New York. Of course I'm also a big fan of the music programming. Some of the best young jazz musicians in New York play here and it's a treat to hear them with an excellent rum cocktail in hand.  It's also a great place to meet with people. Just last week I had a young couple who were interested in hiring the Master Keys to play their wedding cocktail hour and reception. While I only play with a trio here and not the full 7-piece band, it's still a good opportunity to see what I do!

Whether to hire a band or DJ for a wedding reception

I was having this conversation recently with a client that has booked the band for various events showcasing luxury brands. She said something that stuck with me and that was this: Most people these days go to an after party after the wedding reception. The old folks go home and the kids go out to party somewhere. What kind of music do you think is happening at the after party? There is most likely a DJ. So isn't it kind of lame to dance to a DJ at your reception and then dance to a DJ at the after party? Why not have a great jazz band for your wedding reception or any kind of band really (I consider my band to be a party band). That way not only do you get variety but you get something unique and special. The Master Keys often make special big band arrangements of couples' first dance requests. How often do you experience that at other peoples' weddings? Then there was the time that we made a big band arrangement of an Elvis song that the groom knocked out of the park! When you hire a great band for your wedding reception like the Master Keys, not only will you have a great time but you'll have a one-of-a-kind hand-crafted experience. AND your grandparents, aunts and uncles who hate hip hop will have a blast!

Then you can go to the club!

Getting into real estate

So... I'm getting into real estate. No, really. I've been getting into really expensive real estate. They let me in and when I'm finished with the gig, they let me leave. har har...

Anyway, I've been thrilled to link up with some great companies that either sell real estate or partner with other companies to create a luxury experience around a high-end product (Hennessy). They've found that nothing elevates the vibe of an event like excellent musicians joyfully creating a great feeling in the room. Guests can feel it and comment about it making the event. Everyone has heard DJs countless times and real music is fresh to our ears again. It really is a special thing and it shows good taste too!

In these photos we are in the Penthouse at Manhattan View and 70 Vestry.

So, if you're looking to hire a wedding band in New York city, NY or just looking for a great jazz band for hire to make your event special, look no further!

The new and improved trailer is here!

I'm pleased to announce that the new trailer for the band is here! The previous one, filmed by my brother, Alex Maness, had served me well but after two years and some personnel changes it was time for another edition. As I said in the last post, we recorded it in the Relic Room in Chelsea, which boasts a lot of great vintage gear and microphones that we were able to use. We only had a couple of hours but we knocked out 5 full songs and 5 partial songs. If you've never recorded before, let me tell you that is a lot in a very short time! A testament to the professionalism of the band. As of now we have a sweet trailer that you can see here that features a few songs. In the works is another trailer and a couple of videos that highlight entire songs that I think showcase the band well. Thanks for reading and I hope to see you soon!

Video shoot- behind the scenes

This past weekend Peter & the Master Keys had a very successful video shoot at the Relic Room, a fantastic recording studio that also happens to look great on film.  I've been working on a new promo reel for the band and got Aaron Rockers to shoot footage and edit.

Behind the scenes, the talented Mai Comeros shot this footage that you see here. You can tell that there is a great feeling in the room when this group gets together and that comes through in the music. I can't wait to share the video with you!

First wedding of the year at the Yale Club in New York City!

This weekend was another high-water mark for Peter & the Master Keys.  We kicked off the new year with a magical wedding at the prestigious Yale Club in New York City! 

First, the band played some beautiful arrangements of Bach and Chopin for the ceremony in the library. Then we quickly made our way up to the glassed-in roof deck where we played jazz standards for the cocktail hour.

Of course, the most exciting part was the reception.  The newlyweds had their first dance to my arrangement of "I've Just Seen a Face" by the Beatles. Instead of the usual tempo, we slowed it down so that it was closer to the feel of "You Send Me" by Sam Cooke. Soon after the guests flooded the dance floor and we all had a fantastic night of music and dancing. It makes such a huge difference when folks come with the intention of celebrating. These guys certainly did and I'm glad I thought of grabbing my phone to capture this hilarious moment. Enjoy!

In the lap of luxury...

That's where the band and I found ourselves this past Friday the 13th as we ventured to Long Island to play at the Coe House Historic Museum.  It was our second time playing at the beautiful Gatsby era mansion turned museum as we had been invited back to kick off the "All star series".  What an honor! We played for a capacity crowd of almost 100 people in the grand living room, which was the size of a ballroom. It's a real treat to play for a crowd of people who are actively listening. Thanks to all who came out to support live music! Here's a photo I couldn't resist taking after the show:

We've also been busy with other endeavors like playing for a third time at the residence of the Pakistani ambassador to the U.N. and at the prestigious Joe's Pub.  I've also been busy booking the band for holiday parties so if you're interested, let me know!

Lastly, I'd like to share a fun photo with you. We were asked to play for a first year birthday party this past weekend and the mom specifically asked me if I could bring drums because her son was obsessed. Sure enough, Jonah was fascinated the whole time and even cried when he was pulled away. Watch out, mom!

Aperitivo Tuesdays at PHD Terrace

Rooftop season may be drawing to a close but here's a little secret for you: there is about a month left and, once it starts to get a little chilly, the folks at PHD Terrace have a very nice enclosure that they erect over the roof to keep the party going through the winter. 

I've been playing this weekly gig with the great Nick Palumbo for over 6 months now and it keeps getting better. We've been playing classic Rock 'n Roll from the 50s and 60s with some Italian songs thrown in to create a vibe for the Italian themed event. 

If you haven't been,  PHD Terrace is a beautiful rooftop space in midtown Manhattan and epitomizes the kind of classy nightlife that many people seek out in the Big Apple.  We hope to see you there one day!

It's the season for rooftop parties in New York!

"I like New York in June..."  Well it's shaping up to be a beautiful spring in the big city and the Master Keys have been doing more and more gigs on rooftops all over town.  Here's a couple of shots from the Starret Le-High building in Chelsea.  We played there last week for a building wide rooftop event where they screened the classic film, An Affair to Remember.  Later on in the evening we were treated to a beautiful sunset over the Hudson river!

Peter and the Master Keys rock Hava Nagila at a farm wedding in upstate NY!

We had an amazing time at Blooming Hill farm  this past weekend in upstate NY!  The bride had requested Hava Nagila, a traditional song played at Jewish weddings, but then got a little shy and changed her mind. Fortunately, a friend or two of hers assured us that it would go over well and boy did it ever!  Make sure you watch till the end.

Chuck Berry night was a great success!

We celebrated the music of the great Chuck Berry this past Monday at the Wayland in New York's East Village. It was a great chance to bring together many fantastic musicians and have a lot of fun with the music. I think we had about a dozen folks stop by in addition to the smokin' house band of Eric Finland, Erik Blicker, Alex Raderman and yours truly. Somehow I have to find out how to have another great party like this again.  In the meantime, check out my main man, Nick Palumbo doing Johnny B. Goode!

Blues dancing at the Wayland in New York's East Village

Every second and fourth Monday of the month, Peter and the Master Keys performs at the Wayland in the East Village of New York. On these nights I perform with a quartet rather than the sextet and have different guests with me all the time. Sometimes I'm featuring a great guitarist and other times one of my favorite organists.  It's also an opportunity to workshop new songs like some of the Ray Charles songs I've been working on.  Tonight, I'll be playing with some old friends: Erik Blicker- an amazing guitarist as well as engineer and entrepreneur; Nicholas Myers- a fantastic jazz and blues tenor sax man; and Alex Raderman- one of New York's most in-demand drummers.

Live Music at Sotheby's Luxury Night

A week ago, Peter & the Master Keys had the pleasure of playing for Sotheby's Luxury Night, sponsored by Maserati. We played for royalty that night . . . that is, for beautiful sixteenth-century oil paintings of royalty, situated right next to us.

Also next to us was the free-flowing champagne bar, which the band enjoyed - in moderation, of course.

All in all, it was a classy night for a classy band in one of the art world's foremost institutions. We've just been re-hired for Sotheby's holiday party next week, and we can't wait!