4-PIECE LINEUP
Male Vocal/Saxophone
Piano
Bass
Drums
Jazz, Swing, Standards, Romantic Ballads & More
JEFF DECKER has been active in the central Virginia music scene for over twenty years. As a member of the University of Virginia's performance faculty, he performs regularly with the Free Bridge Quintet (the faculty jazz ensemble) and the Charlottesville University Symphony Orchestra. He has extensive experience as a professional musician working for parties and receptions, performing for hundreds of such occasions over the last decade. THE JEFF DECKER BAND specializes in swing era dance music . . .
The Jeff Decker band is awesome. They are professional, without a doubt, courteous, gracious, entertaining and lively--yet know when to be unobtrusive and provide background. People I never thought would dance did.
JEFF DECKER has been active in the central Virginia music scene for over twenty years. As a member of the University of Virginia's performance faculty, he performs regularly with the Free Bridge Quintet (the faculty jazz ensemble) and the Charlottesville University Symphony Orchestra. He has extensive experience as a professional musician working for parties and receptions, performing for hundreds of such occasions over the last decade. THE JEFF DECKER BAND specializes in swing era dance music and jazz. Accordingly, the THE JEFF DECKER BAND is well equipped to perform specialty dance numbers, such as rumbas, bossa novas, sambas, fox trots, waltzes, etc. The attached song list provides just a sample of what THE JEFF DECKER BAND regularly performs. All the members of the group are experienced professional musicians with the ability to play hundreds of songs. Special songs, such as wedding first dances, can be performed if the music is provided beforehand, although most often the band is quite familiar with tunes that are requested. The demonstration audio provides a sample of the songs and styles that the band performs, ranging from medium tempo swing era fox trots to high energy sambas, as well as bossa novas, shuffles, up tempo jitterbug numbers, and romantic ballads. The Jeff Decker Band was voted as one of the Best Wedding Bands in Virginia by a 2010 survey of Knot.com brides and grooms.
Guitar
Trumpet
Cocktail Hour Music (Jazz Combo)
Wedding Ceremony Music (Solo Keyboard)
From: Casey Hu Date: Mon, Dec 9, 2019 at 10:47 AM Subject: RE: Jeff Decker Band To: Mike Miglino Hi Mike: Sorry for the slow response, we are still in recovery mode. The Jeff Decker Band was great! We received a lot of positive feedback about the music from our guests. And they were great to work with. Casey
---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Elizabeth Brightwell Date: Mon, Aug 19, 2019 at 8:47 PM Subject: Re: Jeff Decker Band To: Andrew @ Sam Hill Entertainment Hi Andrew, Thanks so much for your congratulations! The Jeff Decker Band was perfect — they even got people dancing at our daytime reception! I’ve reviewed Sam Hill on The Knot (it was positive :)) and I’ll certainly be recommending you all to friends and family. Thanks for all your help, Elizabeth
"They Jeff Decker band was phenomenal! I will certainly be using them again." Avery Myrick Event Services Manager, Pinehurst Resort 5/8/19
From: Laura Frazho Date: Tue, May 7, 2019 at 12:45 PM Subject: RE: Jeff Decker Band To: Mike Miglino It was great to work with Jeff again—only good things to report! Laura Laura Frazho Special Events & Facility Rentals Manager
From: Litsa Kotsis Date: Fri, Apr 5, 2019 at 3:13 PM Subject: RE: Jeff Decker Band To: Mike Miglino Hi Mike, Thank you for following up with me. The Jeff Decker band was great; we really enjoyed listening to them. I will definitely be using Sam Hill Entertainment in the future. I plan a large client appreciation event every year. Thank you, Litsa
From: Andy Yang Date: Tue, Dec 11, 2018 at 10:30 PM Subject: Re: Jeff Decker Band To: Mike Miglino Everything went well with the band. They sounded great and were very professional. I heard a lot of good comments from the community as well. Thank you for coordinating with us on such short notice. Andy
From: Mark Collier Date: Fri, Oct 26, 2018 at 5:57 PM Subject: RE: Jeff Decker Band To: Mike Miglino Hi Mike, I just want you to know that everything went very well. The Jeff Decker Band and the add-ons received rave reviews. _________________________ MARK COLLIER, CMP MEETINGS SPECIALIST
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Michele Whiteside Date: Fri, May 18, 2018 at 1:48 PM Subject: Re: Jeff Decker Band To: Mike Miglino They were amazing as usual - folks loved having the live music in the background and they were so flexible with us with all our silent auction announcements. Thanks again Michele
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Laura Frazho Date: Tue, May 1, 2018 at 9:36 AM Subject: RE: Jeff Decker Band To: Mike Miglino Everything went well—we were excited to see a couple of the people dancing to their music. Overall I think it was a great success and I am so happy that I could work with Jeff and the band again! I look forward to hopefully doing the same next year! Thanks for checking in! Laura Frazho Special Events & Facility Rentals Manager
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Erin Fitzgibbons Date: Thu, Dec 21, 2017 at 10:22 AM Subject: Re: Jeff Decker Band To: Andrew Juge Hi Andrew, Thanks for following up. Our event went very well and The Jeff Decker Band was fantastic! Thanks for all your assistance! Erin
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Alexandra Fabrizio Date: Wed, Oct 4, 2017 at 11:02 AM Subject: Re: Jeff Decker Band To: Mike Miglino Hi Mike, Thank you for checking in. The band was great and it was an absolute breeze working with them and you at Sam Hill! Best, Alexandra Fabrizio
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Brian Collins Date: Sat, Jun 17, 2017 at 8:16 AM Subject: Re: Jeff Decker Band To: mike at sam hill entertainment Mike, Savannah and I just got back from our Honeymoon today and wanted to respond to your request for feedback. Jeff Decker and the band were AMAZING. Far exceeded expectations and couldn't have been more accommodating, professional, and warm, not to mention talented! Their selection of music, timing, and general flow of the entertainment was excellent and couldn't have been better. We were so impressed and we thought they did an absolutely amazing job. To your second question, working with Sam Hill was seamless and easy, we are very happy we worked with you all to get it organized. We will definitely give you guys a shout out on the Knot. Best, Brian
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Ren Dietel Date: Tue, Jun 13, 2017 at 4:15 PM Subject: Re: Jeff Decker Band To: Mike Miglino They were terrific, everyone loved the music, and we would highly recommend them. Ren Dietel Senior Partner Dietel Partners, LLC
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Will Reifsteck Date: Wed, Apr 19, 2017 at 10:23 AM Subject: Re: Jeff Decker Band To: Mike Miglino Hi Mike, Thanks for the follow up! Jeff and the band were absolutely fantastic!! Very well received by our clients, and absolutely perfect for our event. Kind Regards, Will
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Martha Spano Date: Tue, Dec 13, 2016 at 8:23 AM Subject: Re: Jeff Decker Band To: "Mike @ Sam Hill Entertainment" Dear Mike, The Jeff Decker band was fabulous! My husband considers two things to be of primary importance at a wedding-- the first is food, the second is that the band is good but doesn't impede conversation(we have left receptions previously when the music got too loud). The Jeff Decker band was perfect in music and volume. Everybody danced and talked and talked and danced. They could not have been better. Thank you so much. Martha Sent from my iPhone
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Mercedes Migliore Date: Mon, May 9, 2016 at 5:03 PM Subject: Re: Jeff Decker Band To: Mike Miglino The Jeff Decker Band was phenomenal! I can't believe how awesome they were. Absolutely perfect for our event. Our event wouldn't have been the same without them. Thank you. Mercedes Migliore
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Arpad Korossy Date: Thu, Apr 28, 2016 at 10:41 AM Subject: Re: Jeff Decker Band To: "Mike @ Sam Hill Entertainment" Mike, We were very happy with Jeff and the band: it was easy to communicate and coordinate with them prior to the event, and everything on the day of went very smoothly indeed. The music was terrific, the guests had a wonderful time on the dance floor, and Jeff was a great emcee. Getting live music was a bit of a splurge for us, but I think we're both very happy we did so - the Jeff Decker Band brought a great deal of class to the event that we simply couldn't have matched with a DJ or a more modern pop band. Thanks so much! Best, Arpad
From: Shindig Weddings & Events Date: Tue, Oct 27, 2015 at 9:32 AM Subject: Re: Alexi's wedding To: Andy Jaspen Hi Andy, Jeff's group was phenomenal. I applaud Jeff, in particular, for being a consummate professional and being quite gracious in his flexibility. Another win! Thanks for checking! Meghan
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Steve Foster
Date: Mon, Mar 9, 2015 at 4:59 PM
Subject: Re: Jeff Decker Band
To: Andrew Juge
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Weil, Jack
Date: Tue, Dec 16, 2014 at 11:27 AM
Subject: RE: Jeff Decker Band
To: Andrew Juge
From: Dickie Morris Sent: Friday, April 18, 2014 10:05 AM To: Andy Jaspen @ Sam Hill Entertainment Subject: Re: Jeff Decker at Loring's party Andy, Jeff Decker's band was awesome! They were the perfect group for that party. Very easy to work with. Very prompt. Well dressed. So nice. And sounded great. They were flexible and stayed an hour later for us -- which was great. Thanks again! Dickie Morris Just A Little Ditty
Jeff, I wanted thank you and your fellow musicians for your wonderful music and professionalism. Guests breaking into dance spontaneously is a testament to how much it was appreciated. Your music added so much to our dinner party, helping to make it very special and memorable. If you ever need a reference I stand ready to give enthusiastic several thumbs up. Thanks again and my best wishes to you and your mates, Jane Horn
From: Powell, Natasha Sent: Tuesday, January 07, 2014 10:23 AM To: Andy Jaspen @ Sam Hill Entertainment Subject: RE: Jeff Decker Band follow up Hi Andy, Happy new year. Jeff Decker was great at our firm holiday party. The crowd was really pleased! Thank you again for your help in coordinating. I'll be sure to let you know if we need anything else this year. Thanks, Natasha Powell Harris Williams LLC
From: Powell, Natasha [mailto:npowell@harriswilliams.com] Sent: Tuesday, January 07, 2014 10:23 AM To: Andy Jaspen @ Sam Hill Entertainment Subject: RE: Jeff Decker Band follow up Hi Andy, I am well. I hope you are. Jeff Decker was great. The crowd was really pleased. Thank you again for your help in coordinating. I'll be sure to let you know if we need anything else this year. Thanks, Natasha
From: Jeanmarie Bantz Sent: Thursday, October 17, 2013 4:55 PM To: Andrew Juge @ Sam Hill Entertainment Subject: Jeff Decker Band Hi Andrew, We could not have been more pleased with the Jeff Decker Band! They did a wonderful job at our wedding reception, and I would not hesitate to hire them again or recommend them to others. Thank you, Jeanmarie
From: Courtney Pecinovsky Sent: Monday, October 21, 2013 12:17 PM To: Andy Jaspen @ Sam Hill Entertainment Subject: Re: Jeff Decker Band Hi! Andy! We were very pleased with the Jeff Decker band. They turned out to be ideally appropriate for the occasion and what I had in mind. People could still have dinner conversation and walk around to other tables. It wasn't too loud and the scene was very classic - not loud, modern and dancy so it fit the bill really well. I can tell they have lots of experience reading a situation to see if music should be played to a particular situation. It was unexpectedly very hot that day and I felt they did a wonderful job despite the blistering heat! I hope they felt accommodated." Courtney and Eric
From: Janice Carnevale Sent: Thursday, October 17, 2013 8:47 PM To: Andy Jaspen @ Sam Hill Entertainment Subject: Re: Stump-Snape Wedding cocktails w/ Jeff Decker Band Hi Andy, The Jeff Decker Band was awesome. Jeff himself was very communicative, and they were on time and ready to go. The guests loved the band, and thought it added so much to the event. Everyone was pleased. Thanks so much for checking in! Best, Janice
From: Amy Godenick Sent: Thursday, September 19, 2013 8:42 AM To: Andrew Juge @ Sam Hill Entertainment Subject: Re: Jeff Decker Band Hi Andrew, Everything went amazingly well at the reception! The band knew when to play quieter background music and when the dancing should start. They had prepared the songs that we requested and even let my father-in-law (also a musician) sing along for a song. They were also very flexible with our schedule. In sum, I have no complaints and only the highest praise for the Jeff Decker Band. I will of course refer you to anyone looking for live music in the future. Best, Amy
From: Emileigh Rosso Sent: Tuesday, March 05, 2013 5:52 PM To: Andy @ Sam Hill Entertainment Subject: Re: Jeff Decker Band follow up Hi Andy, We could not have been happier with the Jeff Decker Band! They sounded amazing, had great energy, looked professional, and were pleasant to work with. We had a ton of fun and got many complements on their performance. They played our song wonderfully (and we are so grateful they were willing to learn it for us). We wrote a detailed positive review on the wedding channel website and would highly recommend them to anyone! Thanks, Emileigh
-----Original Message----- From: Deidre Bennett Sent: Wednesday, February 20, 2013 4:09 PM To: Andrew Juge @ Sam Hill Entertainment Subject: Re: Jeff Decker Band Andrew, We were very, very happy with The Jeff Decker Band. They communicated with us throughout the reception and made it very simple to make any necessary last-minute changes. Most importantly, the music was wonderful! They were exactly what we were hoping for, and they helped the evening run smoothly. John and I had a great time, and I think all of our guests did as well. Thank you very much for all of your help, and we will be sure to tell our friends about you! Deidre
From: Halle Shourds Sent: Monday, February 11, 2013 3:10 PM To: Andy Jaspen Subject: Re: Jeff Decker Band follow-up Hi Andy - The Jeff Decker band was fabulous! Great to work with, great to listen to and great to dance to! They were a very talented and professional group and we would certainly use them again! Thank you so much! -Halle Shourds Event Manager Deep Run Hunt Club
From: weddings by michelle Sent: Monday, October 22, 2012 4:24 PM To: Andrew Juge @ Sam Hill Entertainment Subject: RE: Jeff Decker Hi Andrew, Everything was wonderful, we enjoyed working with Jeff and the band. Jeff was easy to communicate with and they all sounded great. Thanks for following up! Kim Pietsch Weddings by Michelle
-----Original Message----- From: Sarah Agnew Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2011 2:27 PM To: Mike @ Sam Hill Entertainment Subject: Re: Jeff Decker Band Hi Mike The Jeff Decker band were terrific -- exactly what I was looking for. A lot of people danced and Mrs. Korologos did comment how nice it was to be able to talk at dinner and have the music not too loud in the background. Everything was perfect!!! Thanks again and I'll definitely pass your company along to anyone who inquires and tell them what a pleasure it was to work with you! Or if I find I need a band personally for anything I will definitely keep you in mind in the future! All the best and thanks again, Sarah
From: Wasson, Ashley Rhae Sent: Monday, November 28, 2011 5:09 PM To: Andy @ Sam Hill Entertainment Subject: RE: Jeff Decker Band Hi Andy, Thank you for your email follow-up! The wedding went GREAT and it was nothing short of a dream come true!! I wanted to write a personal note to let you know how things went with the band! I was honestly MORE than impressed. They were FANTASTIC! I believe they were the highlight of my reception. Not only were they easy to work with, they were very kind. Jeff Decker worked with me and allowed me to sing a surprise song to my groom. He was also very accommodating with a special request song for my first dance. The Jeff Decker Band was also the MC of my wedding and his soft, sweet voice was so soothing and not overbearing like many MC's can be. The music was INCREDIBLE and the variety of tunes was fantastic for the event. I not only had wedding attendees ask about the band but also had many vendors as well. Naturally I told them "Sam Hill Bands!" I will continue to rave about this band and using your site for booking. Thank you for everything and making day so special! Let me know if you have any other questions for me or would like for me to write a review!! Ashley Robbe
From: Kristin Miller Sent: Saturday, November 12, 2011 1:10 PM To: Andy @ Sam Hill Entertainment Subject: Re: Jeff Decker Band Dear Andy, Thank you! John and I said numerous times to one another throughout our reception about how amazing Jeff and his band were! They were true professionals and they truly kicked off our party! Jeff was very gracious, and he and his band rolled with with several schedule changes and made the reception flow naturally. We are so thankful and that helped us relax. Personally, I was so grateful that they learned my father-daughter dance, even though it was not in their repertoire. Having that added gift made it very special. Thank you again for your help making this possible. Leading up to our wedding, we were asked by several people who would be doing our music. We were happy to tell them then, and now after watching and listening to them firsthand, we will surely recommend your company when we hear the need. We wish you all the best and a special thanks to Jeff and his band for making our day so special. Best regards, Kristin & John Nowacki
-----Original Message----- From: Heather Dail Sent: Tuesday, October 18, 2011 10:51 AM To: Andrew Juge @ Sam Hill Entertainment Subject: Re: Jeff Decker Band Andrew, Thanks so much for the congratulations! The wedding went beautifullly. As hackneyed as it sounds, it was a dream wedding. It was a really happy occasion and I honestly believe everyone had a great time. Which leads to your question--the Jeff Decker band is awesome. They are professional, without a doubt, courteous, gracious, entertaining and lively--yet know when to be unobtrusive and provide background. People I never thought would dance did. To be honest, they were first band I considered and my impulsive choice was absolutely ther ideal choice. With them, I didn't worry about a thing, question a thing--aside from asking them not to play "At Last" for my own personal reasons (i hate it when i hear that at weddings, plus I'm not exactly the youngest bride) and asking for one specific "processional," I let them do their thing. And, boy, did they! Every guest--ages 11 to 90--remarked on how much they enjoyed the music. Their music created precisely the atmosphere I was after. Thanks to you and the rest of the Sam Hill staff for making it so easy and for accommodating when I asked that the band do the ceremony songs as well. You have been so helpful, the communication has been great and I will definitely send anyone needing bands your way. Heck, I'm looking for a reason to have a party just so I can! With gratitude, Heather Dail & Joshua Banker too
-----Original Message----- From: Troy & Kristina Sent: Friday, October 07, 2011 9:50 AM To: Mike @ Sam Hill Entertainment Subject: Re: Jeff Decker Band this Wednesday Hi Mike, We just wanted to say a big thank you for helping to make our day so special! Everyone absolutely loved the band and the music was just what we had hoped for. It was all performed beautifully and suited the atmosphere perfectly. Thanks again Kind Regards Troy Gillham
-----Original Message----- > From: Erin Bradley > Sent: Thursday, October 06, 2011 11:34 AM > To: Mike @ Sam Hill Entertainment > Subject: Re: Jeff Decker Band> > > Hi Mike, > > > While I didn't get to talk to any of the band members personally (funny how > what took a year to plan seemed to fly by in an instant) the music itself > was lovely and I really liked that they were able to accomodate our special > song requests. The "Golden Girls Theme" especially was one of the highlights > of the night! > > Erin Bradley
From: carolyn rowell Sent: Monday, May 23, 2011 1:46 PM To: Andy @ Sam Hill Entertainment Subject: Re: Jeff Decker Band I just sent a note today thanking Jeff Decker for providing such wonderful music for the reception. We thought the band was fabulous and our friends and family thoroughly enjoyed them as well. Thank you for playing such an integral part in making the reception so very special! Sincerely, Carolyn Rowell
Sent: Monday, March 21, 2011 12:15 PM To: andy@samhillbands.com; srwagaman@earthlink.net Subject: Re: Jeff Decker Band follow up Andy: The Jeff Decker band out-did themselves! The music was terrific - not too loud, but certainly gave the whole evening a festive air. The music was dance-able, and I had a nice chat with Jeff that night. The band is wonderful! Lucille Digges UVA Hospital Auxiliary Fundraiser opening of the Emily Couric Cancer Center
From: Kate Leggett Sent: Wednesday, November 10, 2010 9:37 PM To: Andy @ Sam Hill Entertainment Subject: Re: Jeff Decker Band Hi Andy, Thanks for your email. We are indeed settling back in to a normal routine again, so I finally have a chance to write you to let you know how much we enjoyed having the Jeff Decker Band play at our wedding reception. They set a lovely tone for our outdoor reception on a spectacular fall evening! Our guests seemed to enjoy themselves immensely, as the dance floor stayed busy throughout the evening. Thank you for helping us find the Jeff Decker Band - they definitely helped create the elegant and laid-back atmosphere that we were going for! Sincerely, Kate & Jason Mabry
-----Original Message----- From: Jason Nicholas Sent: Monday, November 01, 2010 8:43 AM To: Mike @ Sam Hill Entertainment Cc: Sue Nicholas Subject: Re: Jeff Decker Band Mr. Miglino, Thank you for your e-mail and for all the help you and your office provided us in finding the right band for our wedding day. You were a great help, and I would recommend you to anyone interested in hiring entertainment for an event. The Jeff Decker Band was also excellent, and we received several compliments from our guests on our choice. They made our wedding day even more special, and I would recommend them as well for anyone looking for a band performing that genre of music. Thank you again for everything, and please let me know if you need anything else. Take care. Jason Nicholas
-----Original Message----- From: Gregg N. Delany Sent: Thursday, October 28, 2010 7:03 AM To: Mike@SamHillBands.com Subject: Mike: thanks for the follow up. Jeff was great and his band’s sound was very ‘tight’. He was super-easy to work with and very professional. We give him high marks and would enjoy booking him for a variety of future events. Best regards. Gregg Gregg N. Delany Principal Longitude Capital Advisors, L.L.C.
-----Original Message----- From: Jay Welsh Sent: Sunday, October 24, 2010 11:22 AM To: 'Andrew Juge' Subject: RE: Jeff Decker Band Andrew, Excellent group. Superb musicianship. Especially fine keyboardist. And Jeff reminded me more of Harry Connick than Frank. As a kid who worked his way through school playing in stage, dance and club bands, as well as small jazz groups, I’ve “been there, done that”. Certainly know the challenges. Jeff had fine rapport with his crowd, read its mood well and played all the right tunes. From the perspective of a septuagenarian former musician, you can’t go wrong with The Great American Songbook. Bottom line, my wife and daughter were pleased, as were her husband’s family. Especially happy to have found a quality band on such short notice. Please pass on our compliments to Jeff. Best regards, Jay and carol Welsh
-----Original Message----- From: Emily Tabachka Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2010 10:44 AM To: 'Mike @ Sam Hill Entertainment' Subject: RE: Jeff Decker Band for Wood-Delany Wedding on 10/16/2010 Hi Mike, Thank you for checking in. The band was fabulous and all the guests really enjoyed themselves. We will definitely keep you in mind for future events. Thank you. Warm Regards, Emily Tabachka Sales and Marketing Manager Goodstone Inn & Estate
From: Beth Hochkeppel Sent: Monday, August 16, 2010 1:31 PM To: Andy @ Sam Hill Entertainment Subject: Re: Jeff Decker Band Andy, Everything went great with the Jeff Decker Band! The group was wonderful, and Jeff was fantastic in helping things flow so smoothly throughout the night. The music was exactly what we were looking for, and everyone thought the Jeff Decker Band was phenomenal. We have only good things to say about them! Thanks, Beth
From: Crystal Whitaker Sent: Monday, July 19, 2010 5:58 PM To: Andy @ Sam Hill Entertainment Subject: RE: sat night w/ Jeff Decker Hi Andy, Everything went great with Jeff Decker's band! The crowd really liked them and the guests did get up and dance which is exactly what the client wanted. I enjoyed finally meeting Jeff and all the guys were pleasant, polite, on time and accommodating. I look forward to working with them again soon! Thanks! Crystal Whitaker the event company
From: Zach Ramsay [mailto:zramsay@gmail.com] Sent: Monday, October 19, 2009 8:25 PM To: Andy @ Sam Hill Entertainment Subject: Re: Jeff Decker Band Hey Andy, The Jeff Decker was really great. They were exactly as you described and they helped create a perfect evening for our wedding. Thank you, Zach
From:Mary Louise Sent: Monday, October 12, 2009 5:15 PM To: Andy @ Sam Hill Entertainment Subject: Re: Jeff Decker Band for Johnson-Ramsay Wedding on 10/10/2009 Andy, We could not have been more pleased with the Jeff Decker Band. Please recommend them to any of our clients! I heard nothing but raves from every one the whole evening. Thank you again. My first recommendation to any bride requesting live music is to check first with Sam Hill. We appreciate the fact that despite our limitations you can still provide the client with excellent entertainment. Regards, Mary Louise, Event Manager Thomas Birkby House
Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 5:49 PM To: andy@samhillbands.com Subject: The Jeff Decker Band I just wanted to write you all to let you know how glad we were to have The Jeff Decker Band play at our wedding reception. We were very impressed with the skill of all four band members and the poise with which they directed the reception. They made our reception a constant, classy party, as our guests were able to talk with friends they hadn't seen in years or dance the night away. The Jeff Decker Band gave our wedding reception the touch of class and swing we wanted. I would suggest Jeff and his crew to anybody who was looking for a fun, elegant atmosphere at their reception. Jeff and his band are true professionals. Thanks again, Robert Hanneberg
From: Alison Teoh Sent: Tuesday, April 28, 2009 4:44 PM To: Andy @ Sam Hill Entertainment Subject: Re: Jeff Decker Band follow up Andy, We loved having the Jeff Decker band, and I know the guests also enjoyed the entertainment. Jeff and the band were fantastic in their flexibility and ability to accomodate us. Everyone had a great time - thank you so much! ~Alison & David
Jeff Decker was AWESOME!! He was SUPER EASY to work with, and had to deal with a bridal party of 11 and last minute additions of the 3 ushers! HE was FABULOUS. Worth every penny, and then some! I look forward to booking them in the future. Thanks so much for the excellent recommendation! Thank you, Raquel Shutt Wedding Savvy, Inc.
Dear Andy, Thank you so much for your help with booking the JEFF DECKER BAND for our wedding reception. We absolutely loved them, and our guests did too! We have heard so many compliments about themn. I wish you could have heard them as well! We are now certainly fans of both Jeff Decker and Sam Hill Entertainment. Thanks again for everything, Zella & Jeff Page October 4, 2008 wedding, Charlottesville VA
From: Laura Stamp Sent: Sunday, April 06, 2008 10:35 PM To: Andy Jaspen @ Sam Hill Entertainment Subject: Re: Jeff Decker Band at SARA fundraiser Classy, sophisticated, perfect. I'm thinking about putting an addition onto my home just so that I can have them play in my living room for a party. Thank you for unparalleled service. Laura Stamp - SARA fundraiser, Charlottesville VA -----Original Message----- From: Charlotte Drummond Sent: Monday, April 07, 2008 7:56 AM To: Andy Jaspen @ Sam Hill Entertainment Subject: Re: Jeff Decker Band at SARA fundraiser Andy, Jeff and the guys were just wonderful. In addition to sounding great, they were so flexible and easy to work with. Thank you so much for your help setting it all up! Best, Charlotte Drummond - SARA fundraiser, Charlottesville VA
Sent: Monday, January 21, 2008 8:35 AM To: andy@samhillbands.com Subject: RE: rehearsal with Jeff Decker Band Hey Andy, I am so glad you emailed because I have been meaning to do the same for a few days but kept forgetting. Jeff Decker and his guys were AWESOME!!! They made the entire atmosphere so much warmer and more inviting. Everyone who attended kept asking who they were and where I found them. I just can’t say enough good things about them. Their choice of music was perfect, they were perfect….everything was perfect!! I will most certainly refer as many people as possible. Thank you so much for helping to make my rehearsal dinner an event to remember! And please do let Jeff know how much we all enjoyed him and his band. Thanks so much! Brandi
From: Kennedy, Colleen Sent: Monday, December 03, 2007 11:47 AM To: Andy Jaspen @ Sam Hill Entertainment Subject: RE: Jeff Decker band at Watson Wyatt Worldwide Hi Andy - The Jeff Decker Band band was great on Saturday! Everyone really enjoyed the music and they played a great mix of songs with some holiday music sprinkled in. It was exactly what we were looking for. Thanks! Colleen Kennedy Watson Wyatt Worldwide Inc.
From: Melissa Gorelikow Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2007 4:55 PM To: Justin @ Sam Hill Entertainment Cc: Matthew Reuter Subject: Re: 10/5 - Jeff Decker Hello Justin, Matt and I have just returned from our honeymoon. Sorry for the late response! We really enjoyed working with the Jeff Decker Band. They were very professional and our guests loved the music! Jeff also learned a new song for our first dance and he performed it very well. We were so excited! I would highly recommend Jeff and his group to others. Thanks also for the coordination on your part! We appreciate your efforts! Sincerely, Melissa and Matt Reuter
From: Alison Crane Sent: Friday, August 31, 2007 11:19 AM To: Andy Jaspen @ Sam Hill Entertainment Subject: Re: Jeff Decker band follow up Hi Andy, Thanks for your note. Everything went beautifully with the Jeff Decker band at our wedding. They did a wonderful job of playing a mix of music and of keeping the dance floor packed. Thanks for all your help along the way! Best, Alison
-----Original Message----- From: Darcy Hardy Sent: Monday, June 11, 2007 11:01 PM To: Andy Jaspen @ Sam Hill Entertainment Subject: Re: Jeff Decker follow up Hi Andy: Jeff Decker and his band were fantastic! Everyone (old and young) commented on how nice it was to have great music that you could talk over or dance to. In fact, we found out a few of our friends are swing dancers and we never knew! I will gladly pass along Sam Hill Entertainment and the Jeff Decker band specifically. Thank you for making my life easier during the wedding planning process. It was great to have one thing that I didn't need to worry about. Sincerely, Darcy
From: Gigi Qureshi Sent: Tuesday, May 15, 2007 7:09 PM To: Andy Jaspen @ Sam Hill Entertainment Subject: Re: Jeff Decker follow up Andy, Thanks for your email. Just wanted to let you know that everything went perfectly. The Jeff Decker band was incredible. They were easy to work with and happy to accommodate us as far as the songs we requested and hours we wanted them to play. We also wanted to thank you for all your help in booking the band. You were extremely efficient in getting back to us with all of our questions and other things we needed. We would be happy to pass on your information as we hear of things coming up that need entertainment. Thanks again! -Gigi and Phil Gaudiano
-----Original Message----- From: Pam Barefoot Sent: Friday, April 20, 2007 9:53 PM To: 'Andy Jaspen @ Sam Hill Entertainment' Subject: RE: Jeff Decker follow up - Sylvester-Hamilton Wedding Jeff Decker and his band were awesome, total fit the wedding and the crowd. Easy to work with and very accommodating. Loved working with them and would use them again!!!! Pam Barefoot Atrendy Wedding & Event Co.
Dear Andy, We just wanted to write and thank you for helping us find such a wonderful band for our reception. Everyone loved Jeff Decker and the band--- some people were saying it was the most elegant wedding they’d ever been to! Working with you and the rest of the office staff was so easy and enjoyable--- Phil and I will be sure to recommend you to anyone in the need of fabulous entertainment. Thank you, Kendall & Phil McGuire
From: Laura Milby Sent: Thursday, June 08, 2006 2:44 PM To: Justin @ Sam Hill Entertainment Subject: Re: May 13th - Jeff Decker Hello there!! Jeff Decker is a VERY talented group - We never heard them before booking and were pleasantly surprised - Jeff's voice is like butta'!! I cannot say enough nice things - they were perfect and Jeff obviously has been involved with many a bride as he knows how to handle the monsters hee hee- he was GREAT!!! Thanx again, Laura Milby
From: Paula McEachern Sent: Friday, January 07, 2005 6:01 PM To: 'Andy Jaspen at Sam Hill Entertainment' Subject: RE: Jeff Decker follow up Hi Andy, Thank you for your message below and for the card. We loved the Jeff Decker band! Many of our guests, including some who are professional musicians themselves, commented that music was really superb. Jeff was very professional and did a great job making announcements when appropriate, and gauging the musical needs throughout the afternoon. We had a great time dancing during the last hour. Thank you very much for helping us choose the perfect band for our wedding! We would definitely recommend both Sam Hill and Jeff Decker to our friends. Regards, Paula McEachern
From: EJ Brooks Sent: Thursday, November 27, 2003 8:03 AM To: Andy Jaspen Subject: RE: Jeff Decker band follow up Thanks for your followup Andy! The reception was fantastic and we received huge props on our choice of entertainment. I have been freely recommending Sam Hill when folks ask how I found Jeff. The band was as good as we had hoped. They did a great job, kept the mood going and even let me do a couple of numbers with them. They were also flexible and stayed a little longer to accomodate the party. My father-in-law, who was quietly critical over the "production" and money spent on our big day thinking most of my decisions were overkill, said that "I don't know how much you spent on them, but it was the best deal you got for the whole day." My perspective is of course a little different than his, but I too believe the investment paid off. In the end, I would choose the Jeff Decker Band for another jazz/swing band, and I would definitely call Sam Hill next time I am planning an event requiring some help in the selection process. You helped us find and match the right band with our event, and that's what its all about. Thanks again for everything. You made the selection process a breeze. EJ "Brooks"
From: Patrick Savage Sent: Tuesday, November 09, 2004 9:44 AM To: Andy Jaspen at Sam Hill Entertainment Subject: Re: Jeff Decker follow up Andy, Thank you so much for all of your help. The wedding was a blast and the Jeff Decker Band was awesome. They were our favorite vendor! The music sounded great and the band was very professional so everything went smoothly. Jeff has an amazing voice and the band has great energy. We will definitely recommend them to anyone who is looking for a live band! Patrick Savage
From: Hastings, John Sent: Wednesday, October 26, 2005 4:18 PM To: Andy Jaspen @ Sam Hill Entertainment Subject: RE: Jeff Decker follow up Hey Andy, The Jeff Decker Band was perfect. Very professional and brought the right amount of class to the reception. We got numerous compliments from our guests who definitely appreciated them as well. Thanks for hooking us up with them. We will certainly recommend Sam Hill and you to anyone we know that is having an event down C-ville way. The whole wedding was great and we had a great time on our honeymoon in Portugal. Now its back to reality unfortunately. John & Caroline Hastings
From: Christy Gray Sent: Thursday, October 02, 2003 9:23 PM To: Andy Jaspen Subject: RE: Jeff Decker follow up Hi Andy, thanks for your note, and for your help in booking Jeff's band... We had a great time, and Sam Hill was great in helping me reach Jeff on the day of the wedding when all of Richmond (and, as I hear it, most of Charlottesville!) was without power and confirming that Jeff was going to be able to make it. Jeff was REALLY helpful in coming early and setting up an extra sound system for us in the garden where we were exchanging our vows, since we couldn't find a party rental company who rented them out. In all the hurricane and last minute madness, we hadn't been able to come up with a song for our first dance, so fortunately Jeff was really flexible, ended up 'winging it' and really helped make our reception seem polished when behind the scenes it was pretty disorganized! His band was great, the music was beautiful and really made the evening fun and romantic, and everybody loved them! (He even had the older generation out dancing!) Thanks to Jeff for doing such a great job and to you guys for helping us find him; I'll be sure to pass along the word! Best regards, Christy
From: Waller, Thomas Sent: Thursday, September 25, 2003 8:12 AM To: 'Andy Jaspen' Subject: RE: Jeff Decker follow-up Thanks. The Jeff Decker band was perfect. I had a number of comments from the people at the wedding which had positive comments as well. Again,our thanks. We thoroughly enjoyed it.
From: Christopher Smith Sent: Tuesday, June 22, 2004 11:18 PM To: 'Andy Jaspen' Subject: RE: Jeff Decker follow up Andy- Jeff and the band were fantastic and a terrific value. Everybody was raving about them. Many thanks for everything! Best, Chris
From: Omaar Hena Sent: Thursday, June 15, 2006 11:25 AM To: Justin @ Sam Hill Entertainment Subject: Re: May 28th - Jeff Decker Hi Justin, I'm just now back to C-ville after a very long (11 night) honeymoon in St Lucia. I wanted to let you know that Jeff Decker was absolutely amazing. I mean _amazing_. I spoke with him a week or so before the day and indicated that our friends and family are college professors, colleagues at UVa, and that I'd really like the music to be classy and to have less ballads, standards, and (as I think I put it awkwardly) cheezy, kitschy wedding music. He said, "ok, I think I hear what you're saying - you want more jazz." He played Miles Davis, Nat King Cole, Coltrane, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Gershwin, and people loved it! He really got people up and moving. I honestly cannot tell you how many friends and family were like "Where did you find this guy? This is some of the best wedding music I've ever heard!" And it really was. Around 10:30 or so, we put on an i-pod playlist for more recent tunes and Jeff let us use his sound system and speakers. All in all, I could not have been happier with Jeff and his band. There were many very cool things about the night, but Jeff is first class and he truly made it a night to remember. I would highly, highly, highly recommend him and his band. Thanks again for all of your help at Sam Hill. You all have been terrific! Omaar Omaar Hena Ph.D. Candidate Department of English University of Virginia
From: Johanna Sullivan Sent: Tuesday, June 07, 2005 7:52 AM To: Andy Jaspen at Sam Hill Entertainment Subject: Re: Jeff Decker follow up Hi Andy, Thanks for the follow up. The band couldn't have been better. Everyone enjoyed them. They were very professional and Jeff was especially patient and accommodating to all of us in the midst of organized chaos. There was mention made by several folks in attendance that we should all plan another party soon so we can have the Jeff Decker band come back and play for use again. Thank you so much for all your help. You helped to make our party a success. Regards, Johanna
From: Ben Polk Sent: Saturday, June 10, 2006 11:57 AM To: Andy Jaspen @ Sam Hill Entertainment Subject: Re: Jeff Decker Band follow up Andy, Thank you for following up on the band. We would definately recommend you and the Jeff Decker Band to others looking for great live entertainment. My wife and I (and a lot of our family and friends) are professional musicians. The band was very professional and we received many compliments from people at our reception. The band played out for dancing and down for background music. Jeff was more than willing to make announcements and take requests. The band was one of our favorite parts of our wedding. We cannot think of anything negative about the experience. Thank you for your help, Ben and Kristin Polk
From: Megan Thompson Sent: Monday, May 01, 2006 8:48 AM To: Andy Jaspen @ Sam Hill Entertainment Subject: Re: Jeff Decker follow up Andy, Everything was great. Jeff and his band were very professional, timely and polite. The music was fantastic. I apprecaite all of your help as we went through this process. You all have been so easy to work with and I will recommend you to anyone that is looking for a band. I will also include your name and number in the file for next years auction committee. Thanks for everything Andy. You and Jeff and Charlie have been a pleasure to work with. Best of luck, Megan
From: Deborah Romano Sent: Monday, April 25, 2005 2:11 PM To: Che Stratos at Sam Hill Entertainment Subject: RE: following up Hi Che, Thank you for your note. The Jeff Decker Band was great. They were very professional and did a fabulous job. It would be great to have them back anytime. Sincerely, Deborah A. Romano Director of Catering The Army and Navy Club
From: Paige Weiss Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2005 3:37 PM To: Andy Jaspen at Sam Hill Entertainment Subject: Re: April 2 wedding music follow up Hi Andy, Thanks for everything. The music, especially Jeff Decker, was more than we could have asked for! We really appreciate your help with the music for our wedding! Paige Weiss Weiss-Pollard Wedding April 2005
From: Catherine S J Davis Sent: Monday, February 28, 2005 11:52 PM To: andy@samhillbands.com Subject: RE: Jeff Decker follow up Andy, Thank you so much for all of your help to ensure that the music portion of our wedding was a success. It's tough to find reliable and honest vendors in the wedding industry and we took great pride in knowing that we were in good hands and that you and your team at Sam Hill were looking out for us. You certainly did not let us down. And of course, as to be expected, Jeff Decker and his band blew everyone away. They were so much fun and provided such an elegant atmosphere at our reception. Jeff was very accessible during the planning stages and also very accommodating (I had a friend sing our first-dance song and under his direction, it appeared as if she had been singing with the band for years). He also listened to our requests and made sure that they provided exactly the service we were looking for. Because we were having a smaller reception and not a ton of dancing, we didn't want our band to be center stage, but rather to provide background music for a sophisticated cocktail reception. They did just that. They moved with the flow of the crowd, so when guests liked a song and started dancing, they would continue with that mood. However if most everyone was sitting back and talking, they would play a little softer and more instrumental. A huge pet peeve of ours is to be in the same room as a band at a party and not be able to hear yourself talk. We shared this sentiment with Jeff and they followed through. They are such a talented group and I am so very happy that we were able to book them for our wedding. I could not have been more pleased with their performance. Thanks again for everything! I'll be sure to pass your name along to other Cville brides. Hope to see you at a game this fall! Take care, Catherine and Will Davis
From: Mike Littlejohn Sent: Tuesday, January 18, 2005 8:26 AM Subject: Re: Jeff Decker follow up Jeff did a great job. Everyone loved the band. They set the perfect mood for the reception and worked well with us. It could not have worked out any better. I would be glad to write them a letter of recommendation. Mike Littlejohn
-----Original Message----- From: Andrea & James Sent: Tuesday, February 06, 2007 9:26 AM To: andy@samhillbands.com Subject: RE: Jeff Decker Band follow up Hi Andy, The Jeff Decker Band was fabulous! Jeff and his band completely exceeded our expectations. When we started our planning process, many people stressed the importance of good music. One friend said, " have your wedding in a hut if you have to, but get a good band!". Jeff was even able to prepare two special songs for us that were out of his typical genre of music. His interpretation of the songs was fantastic and created a memory we'll always have. Everyone commented on how great the music was. Even though we had a small wedding with all age ranges in attendance, the music appealed to everyone. Jeff was a pleasure to work with and I would tell anyone who is planning a wedding, big or small, to definitely consider them. Thanks for everything! Andrea and James Ps-please pass this note on to Jeff and feel free to use us a reference in the future.
-----Original Message----- From: William G Duke Sent: Sunday, January 28, 2007 4:38 PM To: Andy Jaspen @ Sam Hill Entertainment Subject: Re: Jeff Decker follow up Dear Andy, The Jeff Decker Band was great! Thanks for all the help. Jesse, my bride, and I had a wonderful time. Alden is Jesse's mother and I assume was coordinating with you. Thank you so much. William Duke
-----Original Message----- From: alden coe Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2007 12:40 PM To: andy@samhillbands.com Subject: RE: Jeff Decker follow up Andy, we were so pleased with Jeff Decker and his band! They were just right for that kind of reception and he was really kind to 'learn' a song request at very late notice. He did a great job reading the crowd also. I would and will recommend him. Thanks so much, Alden Coe
-----Original Message----- Sent: Monday, December 18, 2006 11:40 AM To: Andy Jaspen @ Sam Hill Entertainment Subject: RE: Jeff Decker follow up We loved him Andy! Jeff was so very "cool." They were totally professional, had a great sound, & everyone seemed to like them -- it was perfect for our group of 160...not too loud & some people danced too. Jeff has a great voice, & I could tell he is an experienced musician...all ages seemed to enjoy the music. Once again Andy, thank you for coming through with such a great band! You’ve never let us down! Have an awesome holiday, Sylvia Dorian & Christy Derrick CW Capital holiday party
Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2006 8:49 AM To: andy@samhillbands.com Subject: Re: Jeff Decker follow up Dear Andy, Thanks so much for your email. Sam Hill Bands was by far one of the easiest and most reliable vendors that I worked with. I appreciate all that you did to make my wedding come off as beautifully as it did. Jeff Decker and his band were fantastic. When things got crazy I didn't have to flag him down but he actually took the time to call me and get all the information he needed. His band learned two new songs out of their genre, and allowed our friend to sing along with them, which was incredibly flexible and made my day even more special. We absolutely loved the music, and my husband (who is a musician himself) went on for days about how talented the group was. The next time we or one of our frinends is planning a big event, I'll know exactly where to go for quality music and professionalism. Thanks again, Amanda Rodriguez