Bill McFarland and the Chicago Horns
‘Live Fire’ CD Review / Chicago Jazz Magazine
Bill McFarland – Trombone / Kenny Anderson – Trumpet / Hank Ford –
Tenor Saxophone
Kirk Brown – Piano / Yosef Ben Israel – Bass / Rick Vitek & Y.L. Douglas –
Drums
Tony Carpenter – Percussion / Eddie Chappell – Vocals
It is surprising that Bill McFarland and the Chicago Horns do not
have a wider recognition and more albums under their own name. On the
release Live Fire, recorded over two sessions
at Andy’s Chicago Jazz Club, the sextet is in top form. Led by trombonist
McFarland they work through five long, mostly bop, standards and an original
composition dedicated to the past Chicago mayor Harold Washington.
Their sound is a cross between the Jazztet and the Jazz Messengers.
Smooth as the former and energetic as the latter. All three horn players
take long, intricate yet mellifluous solos that feed off each other. One
starts where the previous has left off, maintaining a unity to the tune
despite the far-reaching improvisational flights. They complement each
other, not just doing their own solo, abruptly ending and letting the next
player come forward. This type of musical telepathy, to use a well-worn
cliché, makes each piece more than the sum of its parts. The members of the
rhythm section provide sympathetic support and on “Autumn Leaves” also
demonstrate their individual improvising abilities.
McFarland’s deep and intensely melodic lines
on the trombone are vaguely reminiscent of Curtis Fuller’s, while one can
hear hints of Dexter Gordon in Hank Ford’s tenor saxophone, and the very
unique Kenny Anderson sounds a bit like an edgier Lee Morgan, especially
when he hits those high notes. The closer, “Harold the Great” is an
energetic percussion driven piece, with Tony Carpenter on congas,
reminiscent of more substantial 1960s film soundtracks.
On “All Blues,” recorded at the same session as “Harold the Great,”
Eddie Chappell takes a vocal. It is unfortunate that the sound on these two
tracks is of relatively less quality and it is difficult to hear the
Chappell’s voice clearly––or the horn solos for that matter. The sound of
the rest of the record is also a bit sub-par, but not atypical of live
recordings where fidelity is sometimes sacrificed to capture the atmosphere
of the event.
This is a very stimulating CD that is more than standard fare hard bop.
It captures an extremely talented sextet that should be far better known.
Written by: Hrayr Attarian
for Chicago Jazz Magazine
Released September, 2009 by Sopro Records
Executive Producer & Management: Bud Monaco
Recorded, Mixed & Mastered by: Bob Teutsch
You can get your own personal copy of all of the
great
"Chicago Horns" CD and DVD releases through
"Sopro Records" right here.
Just click.
Bill McFarland and The Chicago Horns &
Sopro Records Presents the New DVD Release
"Fire Horns Totally Live"
Featuring eight previously unreleased DVD live video tracks
from Indianapolis and The New York Jazz Festival.
This beautifully recorded and designed DVD is a must
for your Jazz Music Collection.
To order "Fire Horns Totally Live" DVD click on the DVD cover below.
For a full, comprehensive press release
and information about the New DVD Release
"Fire Horns Totally Live" click on the below 'Press Release' link. 
Press Release
You can get your own personal copy of all of the
great
"Chicago Horns" CD and DVD releases through
"Sopro Records" right here.
Just click.
|
