Do you only work with major stars?
We are a full service live entertainment company. Yes, CGO provides tour support for headline stars, but we also present our own in-house production shows at venues internationally, and our Dance Orchestras and High Energy Party Bands perform at the finest Gala Balls, VIP Political Functions, Corporate Shows, Events and State Dinners. We We also entertain at the finest private parties including of course High Profile Weddings and House Parties.
If you play internationally, who are your CGO musicians?
We use only the finest players from LA, NYC, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, Miami, Atlantic City and Vegas, etc. We have our preferred players that we regularly contract in all major cities and we import international musicians when requested. We work with the top players in the world.
I am looking for someone to create a specific vision I have in my mind. How flexible are your services?
You’ve come to the right place. We can create any type of live musical performance you can dream up.
How do I book a headline star for my event? What stars do you handle?
CGO can book any headline act. Tell us who you want to engage. We have the contacts to connect our clients to any headline star. Tell us who you want to book and we will put the show together. From superstars like Stevie Wonder or Barbara Streisand down to current rising stars, we connect our clients to the acts they want to book.
What about the production aspects?
We handle it all. We advance the whole show with expertise born of 40 years experience. Artist Contractual Agreements, Sound, Audio, Multimedia, Lighting, Staging, Backline, Musical Contracting (ranges from our full 40-piece CGO Showroom Orchestra to smaller groups of supplementary musicians or singers).
How do the contracts and payments work?
We make all the arrangements and prepare the contracts. A 50% deposit is paid at the time the contract is signed and the balance is paid before the performance begins.
I’m interested in CGO original shows. What kind of productions do you offer and what performers do you feature?
Most of our CGO In-house shows were originally produced and debuted in Atlantic City at the request of various Casino Hotels. Consequently these are high quality professional showroom productions, that feature top national musicians and performers, who themselves appear all over the world with headline superstars. We build our productions around these persons, because they are wonderful performers in their own right, and their association with famous artists when advertised creates a draw. It allows CGO to offer high quality entertainment at a fraction of the cost of headline stars.
For instance, one of our violinists has performed as Concert Master and featured Soloist with Andrea Bocelli Orchestra. She may not be a house hold name, but her skills are FANTASTIC and she is a crowd pleasing performer. She garnishes a standing ovation every time she performs Bocelli’s “Time To Say Goodbye”. We have many such artists.
What are some of the themes you present?
The Many Faces of Jazz (greatest hits of Jazz), Boogie Wonderland (greatest 70s and 80s hits), Jazz and the Philharmonic (CGO Jazz ensemble with full symphony orchestra), VOYCES (5-part close vocal harmony), I Remember Nat ( Tribute to Nat King Cole), Wondrous Stories (Our Caberet show featuring the most famous musical stories ever written), The Greatest Horn Bands … Ever!
(The greatest Horn based hits of the last 100 years) and many more.
Where and what type of venues do you play?
Everywhere. We perform in the finest hotels and theaters and private homes internationally. From Jones Beach Amphitheater on Long Island, NY to the Theater Schouwburg in Rotterdam, Netherlands, from the Beverly Hills Wilshire in Los Angeles to the Borgata Casino Atlantic City, from the Palazzo Naiadi in Rome to the Ashford Castle in CO. Mayo Ireland, from the Park Hyatt NYC to the Palms Casino Resort Las Vegas… we have played them all.
What would you recommend for my wedding? I have 400 guests attending my Reception and “La La Land” will be my theme. How do I successfully realize my sophisticated swing theme and yet keep the atmosphere young and high energy?
The CGO orchestra we put together will feature top musicians from all over the country and top singers, finalists from Americas Got Talent for instance or rising pop stars. These artists form our CGO Superstar Wedding Orchestra. We will make your vision come to life, and featuring these powerful performers under CGO direction, we guarantee to bring the house down. At the beginning of the reception, during the introductions and dinner is the time for sophisticated fun, focusing on the La La Land Theme. Once the reception moves into the after dinner party, our music choices will “crescendo” in energy, growing progressively more Top 40 oriented and energized as the reception progresses until we end on a high note your guests will never forget.
What about breaks?
Our music is continuous. No breaks unless you direct us otherwise.
What is the most elaborate Wedding Ceremony music you have ever created?
On 2 separate occasions for the same family, CGO engaged 40 voices from the Philadelphia Orchestra Singers, complemented by the 10-piece CGO Chamber Ensemble featuring players from the Curtis Institute of Philadelphia, with the entire ensemble under the direction of Carl Granieri conducting. We performed an entire Mozart Mass and the music of Thomas Tallis “Spem in Alium” for each of these 2 wedding ceremonies. The Thomas Tallis music is a 40 voice motet considered to be among the most difficult coral pieces in the world to perform.
Cost: approximately $60,000.00
What would constitute your normal ensemble to provide music for a Catholic Wedding Mass?
Our normal instrumentation is 10-pieces, consisting of Female and Male Soloists, Organ/Piano/Conductor, 2 Herald Trumpets and String Quartet comprised of 2 violins, 1 Viola and 1 Cellist and Harp.
What experience do you have playing political receptions?
We have played numerous US Presidential Inaugurals and campaign fund raising dinners and rally events for VIP personages on both sides of the congressional aisle.
What are some of your career highlights?
Backing Bob Hope to open the Showboat Casino Hotel in Atlantic City and playing the debut performances of Luciano Pavarotti, Julio Iglesias in Atlantic City. Backing Ann Margaret Production show when she was the highest paid nightclub performer in the USA. Playing especially behind Aretha Franklin, Rod Stewart and Natalie Cole were highlights among our backing of so many musical legends. Providing CGO musicians to back Frank Sinatra and then being asked to back the singer Sinatra said was the best in the world, my favorite vocalist, Tony Bennett, repeatedly with our full CGO Orchestra. That is never a to be forgotten accomplishment. Entertaining industry professionals for the Premier of “Boardwalk Empire”, and appearing with my 21-piece orchestra on Lifetime TV “The Wedding Story”. Last but not least, the great honor of entertaining at US Presidential Receptions and Inaugurals.