Lame Excuses

Okay, so I'm going to use the most tired, sorry, lamest excuse in the book.  We have been too busy to blog.  There!  I said it.  The sad thing is that it is true.  I have lost count of all the wonderful people we've partied with, and all the cool events we've done that we have said: "Aw, this is definitely blog material!"...........  and here we are...... nothing blogged in months.

So, my pledge:  you will see a barrage of entries on this blog in the next 4 to 5 days, so fasten your seatbelts and check back often. 

I LOVE MY JOB!!!!

Ivette

Allegretto goes Country Western in San Antonio

Microsoft and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Learning Technology recently celebrated the launch of their new "Learning Village" by hosting a Texas style reception at Boudro's "The Vault".  The Vault is located at the corner of Commerce and Presa streets in an impressive space that used to be the lobby of the historic Alamo National Bank.  This venue has a long marble bar that was once the bank teller station, as well as three of the original bank vaults.

Attendees at this reception were visiting San Antonio for the National Educational Computing Conference, and most had never been to Texas.  For entertainment, the company wanted a Texas-themed ensemble that could play real down-home Texas country music.  With the backdrop of a saloon-looking red-draped stage, Allegretto Music (www.allegrettomusic.com)  provided a trio of guitar, acoustic bass and fiddle.  It felt great to represent our city and the music of Texas at this event.

"It felt like being on a John Wayne movie set" says Jose, playing fiddle that night.  "The bank vaults were open, and the bartenders were serving drinks through the teller stations.  People had a blast."  Peter Carey entertained guests playing guitar and singing favorite country tunes like Amarillo By Morning, I Fall To Pieces and many more.  Greg Norris on the big acoustic bass provided the foundation, while Jose Irizarry playing fiddle gave the music just the right Texas twang.

San Antonio's Groove City Band - 4th of July Concert - Landa Park in New Braunfels

San Antonio's best live variety band, Groove City  (www.groovecityband.com), will be the featured artist at the upcoming 4th of July Celebration presented by the New Braunfels Parks and Recreation Department.

The celebration will be held at the picnic grounds of Landa Park, which offers lots of fun things to do, from Miniature Golf, to Tubing.  The concert begins at 7:00pm and will feature lots of your favorite Top 40 songs, so you can shake your groove thang, from Oldies, to Country, and Latin.  Shortly after 9:00pm there will be a fireworks display.  Bring your picnic, your coolers and your favorite people to enjoy great music and outdoor fun.  The concert is free of charge.  Only regular park fees apply.

More information about the event can be found online at www.nbtexas.org.

Hope to see you there!

Groove City Open Session

All photos by Ryan Salinas of Reve Weddings

Sunday, February 24th, Groove City had its first open session of 2008.  The band got together to rehearse new material they are adding to their repertoire this year, as well as special requests made by clients for whom they are performing in the next few months.  At 5:30pm, when the rehearsal ended, couples were invited to listen to the band to and decide if Groove City was the right fit for their reception.  

Six couples attended the session.  Groove City made a presentation, performing 10 song excerpts for the guests.  The first half of the presentation was in English, including oldies, disco, rock, country and motown.  The second half was a mix of Latin music, as many of our couples were looking to include those genres for their families and friends.  Salsa, merengue, cumbias, boleros and even reggaeton.

After the presentation was over, each of the couples got to spend some time talking to the band asking questions about their particular reception, and their music needs.  Four of the couples decided Groove City is the band for them!  We are so excited to have been invited to be a part of their wedding.

Our friend Ryan Salinas took these beautiful pictures.  Thanks, Ryan for coming to our party!  Ryan is the owner of Reve Weddings and one of the most talented wedding designers I know (and I must say, pretty good behind a camera!).  He has created many a fairy tale wedding.  Check out his designs online.

Zion Jazz on KRTU 91.7FM - Tuesday, Feb 19, 9:00pm

Zion Jazz/Allegretto Music violinist Jose Irizarry was invited Tuesday, Feb 19, to join the Jazz Protagonists on their weekly radio show: Protagonists Jazz Party.  This time it was a birthday party for late jazz violinist Stephane Grappelli.  The show aired Tuesday night at 9:00pm on KRTU 91.7 FM.

You can hear the show here in the KRTU audio archives.  Click on the Jazz Protagonists link.

Happy 100th Birthday, Stephane!!

The Beatles Rock!!

All photos by Goen South Photography

WOW!  I love this picture by Morris Goen.  This is the courtyard at the Hotel Valencia.  It is a truly striking setting, especially if you are having a more intimate wedding.  By the way, the fountain is gorgeous, and combines the elements of water and fire.  Just, wow!  This wedding was designed by Carey Millington at Goen South Wedding Consulting.  She did such a wonderful job.

"I want the quartet to play Beatles music."

Now, why is this wedding a highlight?  Well, Mackey Ward hired a String Quartet from Allegretto Music.  No sweat, just another day in the office, right?  A few weeks later she calls and says: "Okay, I want to have exclusively Beatles music played for my wedding."  And it had to be specifically a group of songs that she and her fiance, Will, absolutely loved.  Well, needless to say that the quartet-specific sheet music for these songs wasn't part of our trusty wedding music collection, or anybody else's, for that matter.  

GASP!?  Not really.  It's a good thing Mackey hired us.  We are the only music company in San Antonio that will special-write music for your celebration, even if it's not what people would consider "wedding music".  We've written everything from Luther Vandross to Foo Fighters.  

The String Quartet played In My Life for the wedding party entrance, and Mackey walked down the aisle to a classical piece by Rachmaninoff, the only non-Beatle selection.  Mackey and Will selected Some Things for their special music during the ceremony, and they marched out as husband and wife to All You Need Is Love.  Even the prelude music was hand-picked, special-written, Beatles songs that Will and Mackey love:  Don't Let Me Down, And I Love Her, Here There Everywhere, Girl, If I Fell and others.

The KENS 5 Connection - Vanessa Macias and Bob Ballou

All photos by Goen South Photography

Okay, I'll admit there is a kissing-in-front-of-the-Alamo theme going on here.  But no other city, short of Paris, has such a cool backdrop for a wedding picture, smack in the middle of where everything happens!

On September 8, 2007, Bob Ballou, KENS 5 Sportscaster married San Antonio beauty, Vanessa Macias.  Vanessa used to co-host the KENS 5 morning show: Great Day SA some time ago.  Their ceremony was held at the Basilica National Shrine of The Little Flower.  This church is gigantic and really beautiful.  It also has killer acoustics.  Bob and Vanessa had a String Trio from Allegretto Music perform for the ceremony.