Bill McFarland and The Chicago Horns
"Fire Horns" CD
Sopro Records

ILLINOIS ENTERTAINER
Review by: Terrence Flamm
February 1996

        Long time veterans of the local club circuit, horn players Bill McFarland(trombone), Hank Ford(saxophone), and Kenny Anderson(trumpet) have also logged a fair amount of time as studio musicians for some of the bigger names in R&B and urban contemporary.

It comes as no surprise then that Fire Horns, the debut CD from Bill McFarland and The Chicago Horns, offers a first-rate selection of expertly performed jazz numbers.

        Together with Rick Vitek on percussion, Mike Staron on bass, and Osamu Sam Soda on keyboards, The Chicago Horns experiment with long form instrumental passages that glide through various moods and textures.  The band takes flight with a stellar reading of the Webster Lewis composition "Mild Wind", creating over 10 minutes of passionate music.  The other eight tracks are originals, providing an impressive display of creative energy.

       "Harold The Great", a tribute to the late Chicago Mayor Harold Washington, features aggressive horn playing that sparks the tunes majestic theme.  "Hip Hop Swing" eases its way through a pleasant tempo arrangement with the help of Soda's fluid keyboard work, while "Mar-Di-Gras" sizzles with exotic rhythms.

        The seductive Maho's Dream II", an after-hours slow dance, serves as the perfect finish to an album that captures the nocturnal ambience of a live performance by Bill McFarland and The Chicago Horns.

Review by: Terrence Flamm