Private Events

You all were fantastic and really helped cement the day in our families’, friends’, and own memories. I know I’m a bit biased, but that was the best hora I’ve ever been a part of, and the evening continued to get better. A couple of our friends came up and asked if it was the same band which performed for the ceremony and then the ‘american wedding’ set. Needless to say, you all nailed it and we couldn’t be happier.

Samuel and the rest of Asefa’s playing at our wedding was spirited, full of ruach, and tasteful. With music varying from traditional Ashkenazic Jewish music to more modern secular music, Asefa played exactly to suit the occasion, even learning a song specifically for us! We highly recommend them.

My wife and I were recently privileged to have Asefa perform at our wedding. The Jewish tradition of the wedding celebration entails not only accompanying the bride and groom, but gladdening their hearts, magnifying their joy by rejoicing with and for them. From the warm and tasteful Mediterranean music Asefa played as our guests arrived, welcoming them into the aura of our union, to the soulful old-world shtetl tunes they played to accompany us to the wedding canopy, to the anything-goes hysteria of the hora dancing (where I didn’t know if they kept stepping it up to drive me to dance harder or if I were dancing harder to spur them on to play more wildly), to the groovy jazz of the cocktail hour, to the last freestyle klezmer set they put on to deepen our feeling of connection to tradition creatively transmuted into something effervescent and fresh – they were an integral part of what filled our hearts with joy as we celebrated the greatest day of our lives.
Not only do all the members of Asefa brim over with ebullient musicality, playing a multitude of instruments and shaping a full palette of soundscapes, they are – all of them – delightful people. Rather than merely accompanying our wedding, they made us feel that they were happy to take part in our joy, to be active members in our celebration, to do not just a job but a mitzvah. To that end, Sam worked with us gracefully and patiently before the wedding in preparing a timetable and choosing musical styles to suit each stage of the wedding. And during the wedding, the band was entirely flexible and sensitive in adapting in real time to whatever atmosphere was needed at any given point, always right on cue to create the right mood.

On every count I can think of, Asefa is a class act. May they continue to share their music and spread their groove in a world in sore need of some sincere soul. They are chock full of it and generous too.

Asefa recently played at our annual Dinner Dance, and received unlimited kudos from our guests. People were so grateful to get away from predictable, “canned” music, and they truly appreciated Asefa’s excellent musicianship. If you value creativity, professionalism, and a cool vibe, you would be wise to take a listen. Their repertoire, including Sephardic and Ashkenazic songs, and ability to connect with the listening audience really sets them apart from other bands. We can’t wait to make another simcha just to have them back!

The music at our wedding rocked! The mix of traditional Jewish influence, Sephardic melodies, and pop standards, plus a great sensibility, really brought the event together.

Asefa gave us the most incredible gift at our wedding — a rhythmic musical experience enjoyed by all. From the ceremony to the end of the reception, this group contributed to create the vibe we imagined. We couldn’t get enough. We love Asefa and highly recommend them!

Asefa provided our wedding with the perfect blend of tradition and innovation, rootedness and improvisation that informs our sense and celebration of Torah. Truly amazing!

Thanks so much for your awesome performance at our wedding. Asefa really made the celebration unique and a lot of fun. Guests are still telling us how much they enjoyed the music and what a “breath of fresh air” it was compared to all the other weddings they’ve been to. Your talent and professionalism made it a pleasure for us to work with you in planning our wedding, and we would not hesitate to recommend you to friends and family. All the best!

Asefa’s music immediately set the tone for our wedding. Their music was joyous and creative, and their musicianship top notch. Our guests had an amazing time and we received tons of compliments on how fun and great the music was! Our interactions with them were easy and professional. It was a real pleasure to have had them at our event and to share their music with our friends and family. They exceeded all of our expectations. If we ever plan another giant event with a band, we would definitely contact Asefa again! Thank you Asefa!

Sam Thomas and his band are awesome – these guys don’t entertain at your event – they become part of the party! Sam has played at numerous of our events, Purim, Chanukah, Sat night cafes…Lag B’omer on campus. Don’t hesitate – if you are looking for REAL music – Sam is the man!

Asefa was the perfect band to perform at our wedding. The versatility of the music was exactly what we needed for multicultural nature of our families. The performance of various Jewish songs, Jazz and Funk was beautiful and created a sound that was original and enjoyable. This definitely added to our enjoyment of our most special day. The guests were extremely impressed as the band skillfully and smoothly moved from traditional Jewish wedding songs to romantic Ladino songs. In fact, the music was so amazing that more guests commented on their enjoyment of this unique band than praised the bride’s wedding dress!

I was simply thrilled with Asefa’s great performance at my wedding. For weeks afterwards, attendees kept raving about how amazing the music was, how unique the band’s sound was, and how energized the dancing was because of it. People really appreciated the unusual twist on traditional Jewish melodies, which is the reason why I chose Asefa for my wedding. Thanks for making my simcha truly unforgettable!