Performing Arts Center, Concert Series, and Festival Presenter Feedback

"The highlight of Make Music Madison 2021 for me was seeing Christo's Novelty Combo playing on the balcony of Bob Queen's house on Clemons Street. Chris' usual sharp guitar work was wonderfully supported in the new trio, particularly the bass player who took many engaging solos. Looking forward to hearing more from this band."  -
Terry O' - Diaspora
Christo's Novelty Combo at Make Music Madison

It was a pleasure to present Caravan as part of our series. The audience appreciated the excellent musicianship of this group! For many in our audience, this was their first exposure to Gypsy swing music and they really enjoyed it. We really enjoyed meeting all of you and your group was such an easy group with whom to work! Our best wishes to you as you continue to present Gypsy Swing music." 
Carolyn White (President)
Caravan at Verona Area Performing Arts Series 

"Caravan transfixed a jazz loving crowd in the Windhover Center for the Arts Great Hall. Fond du Lac is home for great jazz, and CGSE did not disappoint. A performance style in the tradition of Django Reinhardt, Caravan's artistic excellence was on display throughout the evening. The band brought the appreciative crowd to its feet amidst a clamor for a return engagement. On behalf of the entire Windhover Center, we look forward to the future return of CGSE with another outstanding concert!" 
Kevin Miller (
Executive Director)
Caravan at Windhover Center for the Arts (now Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts) 

"I had very positive feedback from the patrons I talked to. Several of them mentioned to me that they weren't sure what to expect, but they liked what they heard. I think your group worked very well for our cabaret space. The music is quite accessible and easy listening, relaxing. Obviously, you and your players are quite skilled and very talented--patrons were impressed."  
Tom Robbins  
Caravan at Schauer Arts and Activities Center  

"I have the opportunity to work with many performers throughout our season. Caravan is such a pleasure to work with. They are a professional group of musicians. We sometimes need to present a performance based on the event and they are creative and extremely flexible. They make the work I do very fun and our audiences enjoy them!" 
Mary Lou Krase (Community Programming) 
Caravan at Overture Center for the Arts 

“Drawing from French swing, Hawaiian slack key, Parisian waltz and other styles, Mal-o-Dua's sound is one of the most eclectic in town.” 
Mal-O-Dua - Isthmus Magazine “Isthmus Picks”  

"...a sound you won’t hear anywhere else this summer. Expect a high-energy acoustic show, peppering in historical anecdotes about the music they present to give it context."
Mal-O-Dua - Door County Pulse  

"While there's plenty of history and skill in the music, Mal-O-Dua's playful, loose style travels well..." - 
Mal-O-Dua - Scott Gordon for Tone Madison
 

Corporate Events and Company Parties 

"We had the pleasure of having Christo play at our annual Poverty Matters Conference in La Crosse. He provided a warm, welcoming environment for our attendees during breakfasts and lunches as well as during breaks between workshop sessions. His blend of acoustic and steel guitar was captivating, but not overwhelming. A perfect fit for a conference. We had multiple attendees’ comment on how cool it was to have live music at a conference as opposed to the stale musak that it typically played at conference. I would highly recommend him for any event you are putting together. Thanks Christo!" 
Tom Behnke, Operations & Outreach Manager for WISCAP

"I’ve had the pleasure of working with Caravan for 4 events over the years. Each time, they delighted our guests with their style and talent, and we received compliments during and post event. In addition to their musical merits, planning with Caravan is a breeze. With just a few short emails I have confidence in their understanding of the scope of the event, as well as client demographic. Chris’s rapid response time during the planning phase makes it easy to check music off the to do list, knowing they will be a resounding success."  
Catherine Davis, Director of Events, Madison Marriott West
 

Weddings and Private Parties
"Thank you for the wonderful music on Saturday. We were too shy to dance for more than just our one prepared dance, but we were so happy listening to the music all evening. I had many guests say how interesting the music was and how much it added to the reception. We will be happy to continue to recommend you to others. Thanks again - everyone really appreciated that you stayed so late while they were cleaning up!" 
Rachel and Terri 

"Caravan was fantastic! Everyone I spoke to at our wedding thoroughly enjoyed your music. You wouldn't believe the number of our guests who said they thought it was the perfect music to accompany our wedding celebration. And they meant it, I could tell by the excitement in their voices. As a musician myself, I was impressed with both the virtuosity of the individual musicians and the accessibility of the music. Amazing! I will definitely recommend Caravan to anyone I know who needs music for their wedding reception or for any other function." 
Bryan Z 
Happily Married Man