Description
'Alive & Live' is the follow up to their successful debut CD release 'Fire Horns' produced by Bill McFarland and the legendary Paul Serrano, which has received critical acclaim by some of the top jazz writers in America. These writers include Neil Tesser, Howard Reich, Lloyd Sachs, Jay Harvey, Terrance Flamm, Nort Johnson and David Alan Buco. All of these reviews can be seen and read on The Chicago Horns website located at www.sopromusic.com along with further bios, photos, artwork and sound samples of the 'Fire Horns' and 'Alive & Live' CD's. With the release of 'Alive & Live', Bill McFarland and The Chicago Horns are once again showcasing their dynamic and unique jazz music talents. Accompanying them on this great new musical journey are some of the most outstanding jazz musicians of our time. The song writing of The Chicago Horns group and associated musicians continues to exemplify their strong musical attributes, their writing and production talents on their original songs and their exceptional re-creations of three timeless and beautiful Jazz standards.
Bill McFarland Chicago's Slide Trombone Legend, Kenny Anderson the Mid-west's Trumpet Titan and Hank Ford the Saxophone Sensation of the Nation, have taken their combined musical genius of brass horns, harmonics and song and once again have created their own, 'Statement of Jazz'. They are now driving it right into the new millennium. Along with an all star cast of great writers, musicians and outstanding live performers, The Chicago Horns CD release, 'Alive & Live' is the jazz album to take you into the new millennium with song, style, grace, love and peace.
The first track on 'Alive & Live' is a re-arranged version of 'Mar-Di-Gras' which was recorded on The Chicago Horns debut CD release 'Fire Horns'. This track was recorded live at Green Dolphin Street Jazz Club. Written and performed by Trombonist and band leader Bill McFarland with Kenny Anderson on Trumpet and Hank Ford on Saxophone along with Kirk Brown on Piano, Bassist Yosef Ben Isreal and Drummer Y. L. Douglas. 'Mar-Di-Gras' will make you feel like your are taking a stroll down Bourbon Street as if your were there at midnight with a full moon shining brightly overhead during Mardi Gras in famous old New Orleans.
The re-creation of the timeless jazz standard 'Black Nile', written by Wayne Shorter, is a strong statement by The Chicago Horns that they can lean back into the past and bring a great song into the new millennium. The Chicago Horns do this with taste and style as it was created by the prolific Shorter. The track was recorded live at The Green Mill Jazz Club featuring the same musicians as 'Mar-Di-Gras'.
'Bonita Senorita', written and performed brilliantly by Pianist Kirk Brown was recorded at Chicago Trax Studios. 'Bonita Senorita' is a catchy and wonderful song that showcases Kirk Brown's outstanding Piano talents. Joining The Chicago Horns with a great rhythm section performance on this track are Bassist Bernard Reed and Drummer Asa Watkins along with Guitarist Vince Agwada.
'Bye Bye Blackbird', written by the world-renowned duo of Mort Dixon and Ray Henderson, is taken to another level of perfection by The Chicago Horns. This timeless jazz classic has a rare and unique vocal track that has not been found on previous Chicago Horns recordings or performances. The vocals on 'Bye Bye Blackbird' are beautifully sung by vocalist Eddie Chappell and will take you back to the early years of great jazz vocalists with Eddies Chappell's quality and scat-type approach on his vocal performance. 'Bye Bye Blackbird' was recorded live at Green Dolphin Street. Kirk Brown performs on the Piano along with Yoseph Ben Isreal on Bass and Y. L. Douglas on Drums.
Taking another great jazz standard into the new millennium with perfection is exactly what The Chicago Horns do in their re-creation of the great jazz song 'Impressions' written by the legendary John Coltrane. This track was recorded live at Green Dolphin Street with Kirk Brown on Piano, Yosef Ben Isreal on Bass and Y. L. Douglas on Drums. Kenny Anderson's Trumpet is highlighted on this track and he continues to show his Trumpet playing brilliance with a dazzling performance.
'Magoo', written by Bassist Bernard Reed, is a wonderfully written and performed song that again shows the dynamic sounds of The Chicago Horns. Bernard Reed performs flawlessly on the Bass and Toby Williams on Drums rounds out the rhythm section with exceptional ease. Guitarist Herb Walker adds his majestic Guitar tones to the track along with the addition of Chicago Jazz great Vince Willis on Piano. 'Magoo' was recorded at Chicago Trax Studios.
Saxophonist Hank Ford adds his trademark writing and playing performance on 'Scat'. Hank's consummate saxophone qualities and tones along with Vince Willis' wonderful Piano solo is a pleasure to feel and hear. Bassist Bernard Reed and Drummer Toby Williams add their magical rhythm section touch to the track along with Guitarist Herb Walker. 'Scat' was recorded at Chicago Trax Studios.
The crowning achievement of writing, performance and recording on The Chicago Horns 'Alive and Live' CD release is the beautiful and majestic song 'Cease For Peace'. Written and performed by Bassist Bernard Reed and co-written with his brother Danny Reed with the Horns arrangements by Bill McFarland. 'Cease For Peace' is a worldly proclamation and a powerful statement of peace and world unity in our present time of life throughout the world. The many musical changes throughout the song plays out in harmonic melodies with the dynamic sound of The Chicago Horns interwoven together in a unity of Brass power and viscerally exciting piano, guitar and rhythm section tones. 'Cease For Peace' takes the listener from quite moments of life, thought, time and place to cacophonous three part horn sections with interwoven melodies of harmonic tones beautifully accompanied by Vince Agwada's perfect guitar tones along with Kirk Brown on Piano and Asa Watkins on Drums. Agwada's guitar performance is reminiscent of Jimmy Page's guitar virtuoso as he performed on his classic song 'Kashmir', with crescendos of power and sliding back to beautiful jazz tones as jazz guitar masters have previously done. The ending vocal statement by Bernard Reed will reach down to the heart and cut down deep into the soul of the listener. Bernard's vocal statement strikes out dramatically at the listener and is reminiscent of the great story telling song style and vocal statements of jazz great Lou Rawls and the legendary song writing of Marvin Gaye. Bernard's vocal statement is a statement of love, world peace and that we must all unite together to save the children of the world, for they will be the future of the world. 'Cease For Peace' is a New World Anthem of music that will surely touch the heart, the soul and send a message of peace and love to the universe as a call to arms for world peace for humanity.
"Live For Life, Cease The Strife, This Gift We All Share, Every Man, Woman and Child, Toys For Tots, Something For The Have-nots, Learn To Love, Give And Get A Helping Hand, We Must All Have, There Are No Second Chances, You Live By What You Give, Save The Children, Save The Love, The Blessings, 'CEASE FOR PEACE'.