Another night on the rock club floor, witnessing an outstanding performance by “BAD MEDICINE” and witnessing a spectacular guitar performance by ‘Tone King’ fretmaster Joey Miroballi.
“BAD MEDICINE” took the full house crowd on an elliptical trip to the grand decade of 1980’s rock and roll, highlighted by their exacting performances of ‘Bon Jovi’s’ greatest hits.
          As outstanding that “BAD MEDICINE” is with Vocalist/Guitarist Joe Frasca, Drummer Joe, Bassist Dave, and the statuesque perfectionist Keyboardist Diane Tragos, the true star of the show was Joey Miroballi.
         Joey’s performance was once again, (in the iconic grandeur of the legendary Jimmy Page, Brian May, Jeff Beck, and those other majestic guitarists), as he raged and shredded and heralded with absolute perfect personifications of guitar wizardry, and with his fretmaster techniques stretching from one cosmic tangent to the next, he did so with absolute perfection of guitar wizardry equal to all of the most heralded and greatest guitarists that have ever strapped on a guitar. And he did so throughout the two and a half hour performance, with flawless and dynamic tones that few ‘Tone King’s’ of his level of greatness have done before.
         To witness a performance of such was all consuming, as Joey immersed his heart and soul into every chord and note he hammered out with integrity and dynamics that few guitarists are, and would ever be, able to achieve.

Review by: Bud Monaco

Bill McFarland and The Chicago Horns “LIVE FIRE” CD Record Release Show was surely a highlight of the big Chicago Jazz Festival weekend in Chicago during September of 2009. Presented by Sopro Records in the Grand Bar of Chicago’s finest night club, The Joynt on Dearborn, this performance by Bill McFarland and The Chicago Horns proved once again that The Chicago Horns are the premier Jazz Project in Chicago.
Kicking off the show with material from their new “LIVE FIRE” CD, The Chicago Horns started the set with the beautifully orchestrated version of Freddie Hubbard’s “Little Sunflower”. Band leader, Trombonist Bill McFarland, and Saxophonist Hank Ford led the band into a fine start of the show with their touching horn notes as Keyboardist Kirk Brown, Bassist Jack Zara and drummer Shirazette Tinnin delivered an also touching, medley and rhythm section which matched up perfectly with Bill and Hank’s horn performances. Bill’s Trombone solo and Kirk Brown’s Piano solo early in the song set the bench mark for the rest of the show which would be a wonderful evening of Chicago Jazz at its finest. Bassist Jack Zara followed Kirk’s Piano solo with his personalized Bass solo that quickly caught the attention of all in attendance. Then Drummer Shirazette Tinnin took the spotlight during her pristine Drum solo that followed with Jazz perfection.
Bill then led the band into their island jumpin’ version of Sonny Rollins “Saint Thomas”. Bill and Hank traded off horn segments early in the song as the band accompanied them vibrantly and then had the crowd in the palm of their hands as these Jazz music lovers hung on every note performed. Kirk Brown then showed his Piano versatility with a finely crafted Piano solo to the delight of everyone.
Then it was time for some Jazz love as Hank Ford took the lead solo and eased the band into The Chicago Horns ‘Medley’ of Duke Ellington’s “In A Sentimental Mood”, Gene DePaul’s “You Don’t Know What Love Is” and Thelonius Monk’s “Round Midnight” with Kirk Brown’s Piano solo following, in dramatic fashion.
Following this great “Medley” performance, Bill took The Chicago Horns and their fans in attendance back in time with a song from their previously released debut CD “Fire Horns” with Webster Lewis’ “Mild Wind”. With Bill and Hank showing their dynamic Horn presentations that they are nationally know for, their version took this beautifully orchestrated song to another level of greatness. Again, trading off Horn solo’s, Bill and Hank, along with the continual outstanding performances of the band, set up the finale of the show, showing their versatility, and professionalism of traditional world renowned Jazz perfection. There surely was more than a mild wind blowing through this night club in the Windy City during their performance.
Closing this outstanding Jazz performance on a beautiful September evening in Chicago, Bill led the band into his own original Jazz creation featuring The Chicago Horns trademark song “Harold The Great”. Once again, as it has been flawlessly performed many times in the past, “Harold The Great” now held The Chicago Horns fans attending the show in shock and awe with their dynamic performance and the devastating brass attack of Bill McFarland and The Chicago Horns.
All in all, Bill McFarland and The Chicago Horns CD Record Release on Sopro Records of “LIVE FIRE” now joins their previous CD Releases “Fire Horns”, “Alive and Live” and their DVD Release “Totally Live” into the Jazz world of Chicago and across America as some of the finest Jazz Music in the Nation. Bill McFarland and The Chicago Horns have proven once again that they are one of the premier Jazz Projects in America, featuring their timeless traditional Jazz arrangements and their provocative new millennium Jazz style of dynamic performance.

*********************************************
Following The Chicago Horns CD Record Release performance, the second portion of the show featured Sopro Music’s new, experimental debut Big Band/Swing Revue took to the stage at The Joynt with great expectations. These expectations were not unfounded as the new project was an exceptional endeavor to say the least.
With The Chicago Horns Band supplying the Big Band, Swingin’ backbeat, Sopro Music Promoters Bud Monaco and Red Rose brought to the stage and introduced Vocalist ‘Diva’ Deb Seitz to the crowd which was looking forward to her performance with highly regarded anticipation. Deb Seitz did not disappoint them as she kicked off the Big Band/Swing Revue with her own styled version, reminiscent of Lena Horn’s performance of Frank Sinatra’s “Lady Is A Tramp”. Deb’s beautiful voice, which can cut down deep into your soul like a razor blade of song, brought big smiles to everyone in the house.
Deb’s next song, a Ruth Brown styled version of the timeless hit “Summertime”, showed Deb’s vocal versatility as the magic of her sultry vocals was mesmerizing and just downright beautiful. Saxophonist, Tony Ferraro performed a dazzling, propulsive Sax solo that capped off Deb’s performance and a beautiful song arrangement by the band.
Next up on stage was Vocalist Todd MacGillivray and Todd kicked it right off with his version of Bobby Darren’s timeless hit “Mack The Knife”. Todd’s thundering vocals had the audience’s undivided attention as he told the story of ‘ol Mackie being back in town to the delight of everyone in attendance.
The Big Band/Swing Revue was then taken to another level of showmanship, or should it be said,
‘show-women-ship’, as Deb Seitz returned to the stage with Sopro Records recording artists, Vocalists France Marie and Victoria Talerico, all beautifully and fashionably dressed to kill as if they were taking the stage at world renowned Chicago Theater or New York’s Carnegie Hall. The show now shifted into the next high gear as these three ladies ripped into an outstanding and jaunty version of The Andrews Sisters hit song of the ‘40’s, “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B”. The ladies dedicated this song to all the American Veterans of
WW II as well as all American Veterans of all Wars and especially to the present day American Armed Forces Men and Women fighting the present day Wars ‘overseas out there in the sand and mountains’ in the mid-East. Donning original military soft hats reminiscent of past Andrews Sisters performances, Deb, France and Victoria lit up the crowd as they harmonized together in grand fashion. Each one of them performed solo verses as well and their angelic voices held the crowd’s rapture and cascaded out into the streets of Chicago through the front doors of the club in perfect harmony.
Deb, France and Victoria then continued to kick out their magic, as their voices blended together perfectly, leading the band into Louie Prima’s great hit, “Jump, Jive and Wail”. These three fine ladies kept the song moving gracefully along, Bill McFarland, Hank Ford and Kirk Brown added their exceptional music prowess with some dynamic horn and piano solos as the rhythm section of Jack Zara and Shirazette Tinnin steadily held the Big Band back beat.
The three songbirds then performed the aptly chosen Frank Sinatra song “Chicago: My Kind Of Town” which was the perfect choice for performing at The Joynt on Dearborn in the entertainment heart of downtown Chicago. Magically and vocally in sync, the trio performed gracefully yet powerfully harmonically rich, and had the crowd reminiscing of the glory years of Big Band/Swing music from a timeless past.
Deb then closed out the show with a wonderful version of Ella Fitzgerald’s hit song “Cheek To Cheek” as she sang her heart out with a vocal rapture that had many couples in the crowd getting up from their seats and dancing together cheek to cheek across the floor of the Grand Bar in The Joynt nightclub.
A great evening of Jazz, Big Band/Swing Music and Song was totally engrossing and enjoyed by all in attendance as we look forward to the next time all these performers take to the stage sometime soon further on down the road.
The show was produced and directed by Sopro Music’s, Sopro Record’s Producers Bud Monaco and
Red Rose along with Sopro Music’s Executive Producer Bob Teutsch handling the sound and recording. The show was documented visually by SoproFoto photographer Gala LaPorte and videographer Randy Reding. The Joynt nightclub in-house production and hospitality was handsomely produced by owners Stanly Wozniak, Johnny Marano, Cory Duffy and Andy Gofis.

Sopro Music’s 27th Annual T-Day Chicago All Star Blues Revue at Tommy’s Place in Blues Island, IL was again another smash hit concert event. On a fairly clear but blustery November Saturday night evening, Blues Fans from all over the Chicago area once again turned out in a club capacity environment to enjoy another great Blues Revue.
With the usual crowd anticipation, Sopro Music’s Blues Revue Band took to the stage with Veteran Blues Guitarist and Vocalist ‘The Tattooed Blues Cowboy’, Joey Drada leading the band into a vintage version of ‘Born Under A Bad Sign’ as the big back beat rhythm section featuring ‘Chicago’s Drum King’, Pat Doody, ‘EADG Bass Master’, Bassist John Falstrom and the newest member of Sopro Music’s Blues Revue Band, ‘South Side Keyboard Man’, Greg Wolfman kicked out their big Blues beat. Then ‘Chicago’s Prodigal Son’, the world travelled Guitarist, ‘GuitarZilla’ Joe Jammer and ‘Chicago’s New Harmonica Master’, Doug Lee joined in with the Sons Of Blues classic ‘Where’s My Money’. Drada’s wailing guitar, teamed up with Jammer’s slamming guitar tones, along with Drada’s echoing vocals, lit up the crowd right from the start. Lee’s harmonica performance again showed why he has become one of Chicago’s finest harmonica players.

Sopro Music Recording Artists Bill McFarland and The Chicago Horns then hit the stage and busted into an outstanding rendition of the classic ‘Peter Gunn Theme’, as ‘Chicago’s Trombone King’ Bill McFarland, ‘The Saxophone Sensation of the Nation’ Hank Ford, ‘The Midwest’s Trumpet Titan’ Kenny Anderson and ‘The South Side’s Favorite Saxophone Son’ Tony Ferraro on Baritone proved why they continue to be the elite Horn Section of Chicago and the Nation.McFarland and The Chicago Horns then jammed into a moving Blues serenade with their own designed and orchestrated ‘Fire Horns Blues Serenade’. Slashing horn solo’s were in great abundance as Bill, Hank, Kenny and Tony continued setting the tone for the rest of the evening’s show. McFarland closed out the segment with a beautiful version of ‘Every Day I Have The Blues’ as his gilded, silky smooth voice struck a musical chord deep into the souls of everyone in the crowd.Showtime continued as Sopro Record’s Recording Artist ‘GuitarZilla’ Joe Jammer led the Blues Revue Band into his show segment. Leading off his segment, in dynamic symmetry with the Blues Revue Band, Jammer kicked out his version of ‘Willie The Wimp’ to the delight of the crowd and segued into the great Blues classic of Junior Wells’ ‘Today I Started Loving You Again’ with Vocalist Deb Seitz joining Jammer on stage with her lovely back ground vocals. The Chicago Horns were also in tow, heaving out their blazing Horn’s tones perfectly in harmony with Jammer’s shredding guitar. Jammer continued with the legendary Blues kingpin Otis Rush’s ‘Ain’t Enough Coming In’ and closed out his segment, with Doug Lee joining Jammer on stage with his dynamic Harmonica, performing another Junior Wells’ classic, ‘Hoochie Coochie Man’ as the crowd went wild.

The next segment of the show brought ‘Chicago’s Leading Lady Of The Blues’ Deb Seitz, to the stage with her solo project band mates joining her on stage featuring Frank Anastos on Guitar, Dan Wile on Drums and Mike Bailey on Bass. Dressed to the nines with her white brocaded, three quarter length coat, silk scarf and fire red dress topped off with her red, spiked high heeled fashionable shoes, Deb kicked off her segment with ‘Strut’, a seldom heard classic by the great Bluesman, Taj Mahal. Deb’s broke into her second song, ‘Happy Lady’, which was a brand new original Blues song written by her and her band with this being the debut performance of this newly written track. It hit home with the crowd as Deb’s angelic voice cut down deep to the bone like a razor blade of blues deep into the hearts of all in attendance. ‘Part Time Lover’ keep the crowd in rapture and then she shifted gears into one of her jump blues, trademark songs, ‘Blues Is My Business’, that brought the crowd to it’s feet showing Deb their appreciation of her graceful stage presence and vocal talent. Following this jump blues tune, Deb then showed her heartwarming vocal versatility as she cut down deep again belting out the classic ‘Hurt So Bad’. Deb then rocked the crowd out with her closing song of her segment ‘Rock Me Right’ as she definitely rocked the full house crowd right; right down to their Blues bones.

Speaking of the ‘Crowd’; as always, Chicago and Chicago’s South Side Blues Fans were out in full force as this annual Blues Revue show draws Blues Fans from all over the Chicago area as well as throughout the Mid-west which included many, many long time Sopro Music fans, friends and family. A unique sight developed during the show, as usually, there are many photographers, including SoproFoto photographer Gala LaPorte dressed to the nines and looking every part as one of the performers on stage and numerous other Blues Fans, taking photos of all the wonderful performers; but this particular evening there had to be as many professional photographers on hand as there were performers on stage capturing the event on film and digitally with cameras and video cameras. Professional photographers T.J. Johnson and Anthony Caciopo, just to name two, were shooting away along with dozens of other photographers and Blues Fans documenting this one of a kind Blues Revue Concert Event. The camera flashes continued to light up the room throughout the show reminiscent of a Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones or Buddy Guy concert performance. It was a sight to see leaving an indelible memory in everyone’s mind to be remembered for years to come.

Unfortunately, this tremendous event has to have an ending at some time during the evening, but the closing segment of the show is never a disappointment. Taking to the stage in a flash and a flourish, Harmonica man, Vocalist and Blues entertainer Doug Lee continued the tradition of Sopro Music’s Blues Revues with his personalized song ‘Florida Sunshine Blues’ as he vocally talked as well as used his well honed gravely vocal voice to tell this comical Blues story while wailing away with his powerful sounding Harmonica performance. Lee then waltzed into his ‘Walkin’ Blues’ with Tenor Saxophonist, Tony Ferraro joining him on stage. Tony’s touching Sax sounds complimented Lee’s Harmonica tones in true Blues fashion.
Speaking of fashion; Doug and Tony were both decked out wearing their own styled, traditional, Blues fashioned cloths in the grand style of past Blues masters. Lee sporting his trademark black, short brimmed Fedora hat and wearing an Italian, hand made silk shirt and Ferraro was also wearing an original European styled black, hand made silk shirt. Together on stage they not only played the parts of great Blues masters of the past as they presently are, but surely looked the part as well dressed as well as could be.Before Lee took the Blues Revue Band of Joey Drada, Joe Jammer, Pat Doody, John Falstrom, Tony Ferraro and Greg Wolfman into his next tune, Lee invited a very special guest in the house to the stage. To the delight of the band, Sopro Music promoters and staff, as well as the crowd, Blues Vocalist & Entertainer Vivian Vance Kelly, the talented daughter of Chicago Blues Legend Guitarist and Vocalist, the incomparable Vance Kelly, joined Doug and the band on stage as they kicked into ‘My House Blues’ with Vivian vocally telling the story in conversation and then kicking in with her big sounding vocal dynamics rounding out the tune. The crowd loved her and she was a perfect fit right out the gate with Lee and the Blues Revue Band. And if this wasn’t enough of a grand finale, Deb Seitz returned to the stage to join Vivian in a knock down, drag out version of ‘Let The Good Times Roll’ taking the crowd to new heights and taking the show to another stratospheric place in Blues music. Vivian and Deb’s cacophonous harmonies and the melding of their two angelic voices were gratefully absorbed into the hearts and minds of the well attended audience of Blues aficionados. Deb and Vivian did a call and response vocal attack with each other and then Doug joined in on the call and response with his Harmonica as the three of these dramatic performers continued in tandem to trade vocal and harp licks with each other while Drada, Ferraro and Jammer kicked in with their own solo licks as Doody, Falstrom and Wolfman kept the rhythm section tight and in perfect meter at all times without a flaw in their performance. Wow !! I mean Wow, it was really spectacular. Doug Lee then, finally, got around to closing the show with his finishing song which he has been doing for numerous years now with ‘Help Me’ and with his coercion for cooperation from the crowd to ‘help him’, they did with revelry as they were out of their seats and onto their feets to bring this wonderful Blues Revue Concert Event to a dramatic ending.

As the capacity crowd filtered out of the Tommy’s Place Night Club into the late night Blues Island street on South Western Avenue, now blustery chilly but with clear skies on this special November evening; all in attendance knew they had seen and heard something very special in the annuals of American Blues performances and concert events and were all looking forward to the next Sopro Music Blues Revue.
The flawless concert production, emceeing and stage management was produced and directed by Sopro Music’s Executive Producers Bud Monaco & Red Rose along with Sopro Music’s Associate Executive Producer Bob Teutsch who also did the live recording to document the show along with Sopro Security Chief Butch Marquardt handling the stage and backstage security. The flawless PA and Lighting was operated by the tandem of pro sound men, the father and son duo of Tony Gioiosa Sr. and Tony Gioiosa Jr. throughout the evening. Club production at Tommy’s Place was operated by club owner’s Cindy, Tommy and Patty Petta with Ray Ray Petta covering the night club floor from the front door to backstage with professional operations from start to finish.

See ya’ all next time around. Thank you all for your continued support.

By: Bud Monaco

Without a doubt, Trombonist, ‘Bill McFarland,’ creator, band leader, and driving force of the highly acclaimed and nationally renowned Jazz Ensemble, ‘Bill McFarland and The Chicago Horns’, rides with the herd of the world’s greatest Trombone Players that have and still do perform the best of Jazz, Big Band, Swing, Be-Bop, Acid Jazz, and American Blues. These noted here are amongst the greats McFarland had admired, learned from, and stirved to emulate; Jack Teagarden, Vic Dickenson, Urbie Green, J.J. Johnson, Kai Winding, Slide Hampton, Curtis Fuller, Steve Turre, Robin Eubanks, Frank Rosolino, Bill Watrous, Troy ‘Trombone Shorty’ Andrews, Fred Wesley, Wycliffe Gordon, Curtis Fuller, Wayne Henderson, Freddie Lonzo, and Carl Fontana.

Octogenarian McFarland, with fifty-five years of performances and recordings during his incredible music career, and over the past 30 years performing with his life-long Horn Mates, Saxophonist Hank Ford and Trumpeter Kenny Anderson, has established himself as one of the all time great Trombonists, still performing live as ‘Bill McFarland and The Chicago Horns,’ as well a two-decades-long run with Jackie Taylor’s ‘Black Ensemble Theater,’ as well as performing for the past four decades with ‘Sopro Music’s Chicago All Star Blues Revue Band’ and  McFarland still has plenty of horn music magic left to play and blow on his Slide Trombone.
‘Bill McFarland and The Chicago Horns’ have made their mark in the American Jazz recording world with their studio album, (produced by McFarland, co-produced and engineered by the legendary Paul Serrano), recording of their all-original tracks written and arranged by McFarland and his Horn Mates on their debut album, ‘Fire Horns,’ along with their live recorded CD albums, ‘Live Fire,’ ‘Fire Horns Alive and Live,’ and their DVD ‘Fire Horns Totally Live,’ featuring live performances from the 2001 Black Entertainment Television (BETonJazz) New York Jazz Festival and The Jazz Kitchen’s Indianapolis Memorial Day Weekend Jazz Festival, all released on the Sopro Records Label.

To solidify McFarland’s exquisite and brilliant performance prowess, from the archives, going back to 1987, performing with the great ‘Son Seals,’ on Detroit Junior’s ‘Call My Job,’ performed live at ‘The Lonesome Pine Special’ in Louisville, Kentucky, McFarland’s elongated Trombone Solo, one of the greatest of all time, along with Son Seals majestic Guitar performance in full shred mode, can be viewed, listened to, and enjoyed through the below link.

‘Bill McFarland and The Chicago Horns’ CDs and DVD can be acquired through the Sopro Records website by following the below link, along with further biographies, history, and information, including all the great, world renowned, Jazz and Blues Artists Bill and his Bandmates have performed with over the past five decades.
Chicago Horns Page  

Review By: Nort Johnson | Southtowners By: B. Scott Hersey |  Editorial By: Tom Lounges  | Streetwise Article By: Terry Flamm