Bales & Gitlin Music

TLDR - Stop looking around and book them. Ginny Bales runs an amazing band; professional, personal, well organized, deeply knowledgable, and most importantly, the group of musicians plays well together as a unit! My wife and I wanted a band for our wedding. We wanted older style music, nothing top 40 in the last 10 years, to cater to our friends and family. Most of our wedding invitees were 30s-60s, so a DJ with uplighting and loud speakers wasn't really the vibe we were looking for. After shopping around and getting a few quotes from other bands, we never had a strong personal connection with the coordinators which lead to a lack of confidence in them being able to execute it right. Then we met Ginny and we knew we found our band. From the very beginning, Ginny and the band were amazing. They have an extensive setlist which we highlighted our favorites from, and our zoom meetings to get a sense for each other and our music taste were easy, relaxing, and even fun. She is very thorough and knowledgable, but also doesn't impose specific traditions or a structure. We talked through the entire wedding plan over two meetings and a few emails to shore up specific father-daughter and mother-son dance songs, and then that was it; nice and easy. Ginny also served as our emcee for the night, and she was perfectly professional without grabbing any spotlight like I've seen other emcees do in the past. We had this band play a two piece (piano, flute) before and during the walk ins for our ceremony. The music was beautifully light, at the right tempo, and set the delicate romantic stage. The flutist switched to an alto sax and they added an upright bass to play our jazz cocktail hour. Again, they were perfect. They adjusted the tempo to pick up the energy, played at the right volume, and elevated our cocktail hour feel. The rest of the band set up in the main room during this time, and they joined up to form a 7-8 piece band. They played our first dance song, father-daughter, and mother-son songs so well, not a dry eye in the house by the end of them (You are the Best Thing - Ray Lamontagne, Wildflowers - Tom Petty, Shower the People - James Taylor). Dinner music was the right volume, and we saw our guests sing a little in between courses. They were the perfect balance of background when people were eating/talking, but also strong musicians to hold attention in that time. They coordinated our maid of honor and best man speeches well when the time came for them. We also had a special request that my mother in law sings a song to kick off the party after dinner, and the band was an amazing support for her performance of Proud Mary. It was a great moment for both of our families, and something I know we'll be talking about for the rest of our lives. From there, the band kept that dancing energy high throughout the night. We had to clear 3 tables to widen the dance floor because of how many guests were dancing. It was truly an amazing night, and it was all thanks to Ginny and this amazing band. If you made it this far into my review, I'll end with a few strong takeaways. My wife and I did not book any other forms of entertainment (no photobooth, performers, dessert display bars, etc.) but that didn't matter - our guests had a wonderful night dancing, and never looked around for anything more. And would I book them again? In a heartbeat. Maybe this review can save a bit of time planning your wedding; meet them and see what I mean.

I cannot recommend this band ENOUGH. We chose them bc they we classic, and we got SO many compliments on them. They went above and beyond for us, from learning how to play the instrumental version of current pop songs for the cocktail hour to really helping the entire night move along. I would give them 15/10. They we FABULOUS, and Ginny is super easy to work with. They’re old school in the best way, but they also kept it current with any requests. TRuly we’re such a huge part in making our wedding a party!!

We cannot say enough good things about Bales Gitlin! We hired them for our stateside reception at The Tokenke Club in Darien, CT in August 2022. Ginny personalized EVERYTHING, and even became our unofficial wedding planner! We started off wanting a sit-down luncheon vibe and it turned into an amazing dancing party. Thank you Ginny and all for helping make our reception one of the best days of our lives!

The Bales & Gitlin band played at my son's wedding rehearsal dinner and welcome party. Dinner had about 50 people and the welcome party grew to about 125. The band was outstanding. The music was varied meeting all age groups with all types of music. Picking from the vast play list the band provides, the party could have lasted all night. Advance contact with the band was excellent. All players were punctual, pleasant and very professional. Also, the fee was very reasonable. Everyone loved it. There was plenty of dancing as well. Everyone had a great time. If I hire another band, this is the group. You won't go wrong!

Ginny went above and beyond to customize the music for our night. On the day of the wedding it rained and she again was so flexible in changing plans at a moments notice to make everything run smoothly. They were amazing.

This band was fun, entertaining and had everyone on the dance floor. They were amazing MCs. They listened and spent time with us to incorporate all of our special songs and even dressed like the wedding party! They are a must hire for an elegant wedding!

You would be hard-pressed to find a better band for your wedding than Bales & Gitlin, for multiple reasons. Ginny's enthusiasm and caring for our event from start to finish made the entire process stress-free, fun, and allowed us to create a playlist of exactly what we wanted. They were knowledgeable of all of the Jewish music that we needed for our event and played each song spectacularly. With enough notice, they were even willing to learn a new song we requested for our first dance that they did not know, and absolutely knocked it out of the park. We had multiple people throughout the night comment on how wonderful the band was and the incredible job Ginny did as an MC. Her experience and bubbly personality allow her to be thorough and cover every detail, while making the experience fun from start to finish. I could not recommend enough hiring Bales & Gitlin for your event. They are truly a pleasure to work with and have as your event's entertainment.

We had the most magical wedding day. The music by Bales & Gitlin was the cherry on the cake. We had 6 pieces including a sax, singer, base, drums, guitar and piano and the sound was really robust and well-rounded. My husband worked closely with Ginny to coordinate a list of songs that flowed perfectly from upbeat jazz during the cocktail hour into Motown hits during the dinner with lots of dancing in between dinner courses. Ginny even worked with my sister-in-law to play alongside her as my sister-in-law sang during our ceremony. Ginny knows what she's doing and is a great MC. I felt comfortable turning it over to her for her to lead the evening, as she seamlessly ushered on the various dances and speeches.

Well - we could not have been happier with our wedding band! Ginny and Jay are friends of our family, so we really lucked out because they guided us through this entire process. They helped us design a musical evening, and they were so supportive and full of ideas and suggestions. They know a LOT about weddings and what makes for a good evening. The band (or DJ) does not only handle the music - they are also the MCs of the whole event, setting the tone of the reception. Ginny, Jay, and the whole band were absolutely fantastic in this regard, and we felt in great hands. Musically, they were perfection. We had a very full band because it was a big event (over 250 guests), and they covered several genres. Guests of all ages had something to sing along to that evening, and there were plenty of rousing numbers for everyone to dance to. Everyone danced! They advised us to start right off with the hora to set the tone for the evening, and it was a brilliant idea. It got everyone on their feet immediately. They also worked with us to orchestrate several performances by ourselves and family and friends. The music was probably the most special part of the entire day for us, truly a treasure, and it could never have been the same with a different wedding band. We highly recommend!

I cannot say enough good things about this band! Ginny was so easy to work with and knows exactly what to do in every situation! She kept the pace of the wedding moving through the cocktail hour and made sure we got the optimal amount of dancing in. The band read the crowd and played the music that kept them dancing all night. I am still getting compliments on how fun a night it was! Lastly, the band SAVED my wedding by making the call to keep the party outside despite pending rain. The weather held off and it was the best night of my life! If you want to work with someone who is going to try to make your wedding be exactly what you dreamed it would be, please hire Bales Gitlin. They played both my sister and my wedding so I know they get it right every time!

Where do you start when someone exceeds your greatest expectations on every level? Ginnie, Jay and the rest of the band were an absolute pleasure to work with at every step of the journey to our wedding. They eased our minds about the ceremony and music, and went above and far beyond what we hoped for in every way- even bringing in an extra singer to accomodate our music selections. Everyone from the 20 -somethings to the Octogenarians had a great time dancing and raved about how great the music and MCing was. If you're considering a band for your event, you can't go wrong with the exceptional music and support Bales- Gitlin delivers! We hope to have them at our vow renewal party in a few years!

There aren't enough positive superlatives to describe the Bales Gitlin Band. Ginny, Jay and company provide top notch MC services and a fantastic choice of music in a variety of genres. They worked with us tirelessly before, during and after to ensure a fantastic reception. There wasn't a song we requested that the band couldn't handle. They know how to keep the party moving, the dance floor was never deserted, but they know how to slow things down as well. We can't recommend them highly enough. You will not be disappointed!

The music on your wedding night really sets the mood for the evening, so having the perfect band was top priority for meI! I chose the Bales & Gitlin Music band for many reasons, but the minute I spoke to Ginny I knew they would be the ones. She knew, without hesitation, what I wanted to hear and the type of night I wanted to have. I wanted a classy black tie affair, but also a fun and wild night of dancing for all ages, and somehow they achieved it all with the music, it was fantastic! They played an extended version of L.O.V.E. by Nat King Cole for our first dance, and we requested everyone be invited on to the dance floor halfway through, and almost everyone of my guests got up there! I don't remember ever seeing such a packed dance floor at any wedding I had been to previously. It was packed all night long, and everyone commented on how tasteful and wonderful the music was. This was my most hoped for memory, and one that will never be forgotten now. I truly believe that this band has the gift, so don't doubt yourself because there are so many bands to choose from. You only need one, and that is the Bales & Gitlin Music band! Thank you again to Ginny and the Band. I wish we could do it all over again :)

I've known the Bales-Gitlin Band for years as The wedding and party band around New Haven, so when it came time for my wedding I knew whom to call. Ginny and Jay are terrific. They helped us think not just about what music and style of music we wanted, but also how we wanted to structure the entertainment and toasts at the reception. They were super flexible, and they even learned a song ("One Big Union for Two" from the musical Pins and Needles) at our request. They understood what we meant when we said we wanted our Sunday afternoon park wedding to be garden-party-style, and were very good at helping to create a classy atmosphere. They were flexible about timing, worked within our budget, and weren't phased when we had some last-minute logistical challenges. They were great and we couldn't be happier with them.

Bales & Gitlin played for our 10/10/10 wedding as a band of 8 people. My new husband and I are both musicians, and so the quality and sound of our wedding band's performance was extremely important to us. Bales and Gitlin did a phenomenal job! They were so professional and they sounded amazing! Ginny and Jay are so great to work with- they asked if we had special requests and gladly learned and played them at our wedding. Our guests were hardly at their seats because the music kept them on the dance floor, and everyone told us what a great time they had! If we had to do it all over again, Bales and Gitlin would be playing for us! :)

We found this band somewhat randomly, by calling up Yale School of Music for a recommendation and they were great. They played the standard wedding music with class and got everyone up dancing with out being cheesy about it. Ginny Bales, the lead singer, talked to us before the wedding to find out what we wanted and was great in playing our styles, while reading the crowd with what they want (which we had discussed). She was also a great MC for the evening, again without being cheesy. But the best thing about them is that we had picked a little known song to be our first dance and we were nervous that any cover band could do it justice. They learned the song and played in so beautifully that my husband and I could not but get emotional during our dance. Good job!