"Bill Champlin" Image courtesy of Bobby Gladd

This past Monday night I headed over to Palms to catch Santa Fe And The Fat City Horns for what their band leader Jerry Lopez calls a “Healing”.  I was already excited as I was aware that Bill Champlin was “Sittin In” with the band, along with his wife Tamara and their son Will.  I arrived early so that I could sit in my favorite area (first in line).  Once seated, I chatted with a few folks until the show started, anticipation building.

The opening had the horn section (by themselves) laying down a very funky groove, which segway’s into one of my favorites (again an instrumental) “South American Sojourn”.  From that moment, I knew that this was going to be a special night.  Before Bill came out, the band played five more songs some of which are on their current CD’s and, a couple I’m sure are destined for a future CD.  My favorite is a song penned by Jamie Hosmer (keyboards and vocals) titled “Take Me Home”.

"Bill Champlin With Jerry Lopez" Photo Courtesy of Bobby Gladd

Ok, so the band gets the crowd fired up, and now Bill Champlin is introduced.  Bill has been one of my favorites for a long time (yes I am Sons Of Champlin fan, and yes you can hear Bill’s voice on many songs played by us, as he’s a guest vocalist on many projects).  Bill sits down at the B3 and announces that they are “Going to play a medley of his hit”.  Well the hit is actually two Grammy Award winning songs (penned by Bill) “Turn Your Love Around”, and “After The Love Is Gone”.  The arrangement’s are a bit different than their commercial versions (hits by George Benson and Earth Wind and Fire) and with Bill’s soulful voice, are gems in their own right.

For the next few songs Tamara Champlin came up and sang a duet will Bill, and sang one of her own songs “Back Streets Of Paradise”.  If you have not heard Tamara sing, I must tell you, she has a great voice.  Very bluesy and soulful, and although I don’t like to compare people, her voice kind of reminds me of Lydia Pense.

"Tamara Champlin" Photo Courtesy of Bobby Gladd

Towards the end of the show Will Champlin came up to lend his musical talents to the last few songs.  Will is quite an accomplished key board player, and vocalist as well.  He sang lead on one of his songs “Rainin Sunshine”.  Wow yet another Champlin that can sing their ass off.  I must tell you I often have doubts about where music is going these day’s, but to see someone of Will’s talent, I known there is still hope for good music to be played by young artists.

"Will Champlin" Photo Courtesy of Bobby Gladd

The show ended with Santa Fe’s version of “Livin For The City” with everyone taking lead vocals during the song.  At the end, the house went wild.  What an amazing overall performance.

"The Champlins" Photo Courtesy of Tammy Schleppegrell

"The Finale" Photo Courtesy of Tammy Schleppegrell

Here are some take away’s from the show:

• Santa Fe always amazes me.   Jerry makes sure that everyone gets some of the spotlight both instrumentally and vocally.
• Bill Champlin was laying down some pretty cool guitar grooves, which amazed me as I have always focused on his singing and keyboard playing.
• Tamara Champlin, please get out and buy some of her music, you will not be disappointed.
• Will Champlin I will say it again, you (and I’m sure there are some others out there) are the future of real musicianship.
• This show was recorded on Video, for a Internet video broadcast at a later date.  I will let everyone know as soon as I find out when that is.

Lastly, I don’t normally do reviews, as I am not very good at it, but this performance inspired me.

For more on Bill Champlin go to: www.billchamplin.net

Tamara Champlin: www.reverbnation.com/tamarachamplin

Will Champlin: www.willchamplin.com

Santa Fe And The Fat City Horns: www.santafeband.com

For More of Bobby G’s photos: www.santafeandthefatcityhorns.blogspot.com

It almost got by us, but this month is our 6th year of operation.  Starting out as soulradioonline.com and now horndrivenradio.com, we have been trying to provide the best in Horn Driven music from bands around the world.  We have gotten to know quite a few artists over the past years, and have had a blast playing their music.  So to them we would like to say thanks, for sending in all the great music.  And to our listeners, thanks so much for staying with us.  Hopefully this next year, we will bring you even more new music that you will enjoy.

I would particularly like to thank Craig Webb and AC Hernandez for their contributions to the Station.  Thanks again guys…Raoul.

Here’s a brief update on East Bay Soul.  The band is in the studio writing and recording.  The release date for the new CD “East Bay Soul 2.0” is February 13, 2012.  To keep updated on what’s going on check out the blog created for this project at www.eastbaysoul.com/blog

Greg Adams Short Story Replay:  It was conveyed to us through the producer, whom I can’t recall his name, that they would be bringing their own arrangement to the date. One song, no big whoop. In and out in an hour or so, right? Oh boy. When we arrived at the studio, in LA but I can’t remember where, the vibe was a little bit, I don’t know, tense. Can’t put my finger on it, but there wasn’t a whole lot of love coming from these guys.

So we’re in the studio taking out our horns when the arranger comes in and starts handing out the parts to us. Holy you know what! The pages were literally black with ink there were so many notes on them. Scads of 16th and 32nd notes. And the counterpoint between the trumpets, tenors and bari was, well, insane. You always know when a keyboard player who hasn’t studied the instruments that he’s written for, especially winds, that at some time we will have to take breaths to continue to play.  And he had an attitude, too. He was diabolically going to bring down the mighty TOP horn section with the lead of his IBM pencil!

It was beginning to be very frustrating early in the game. We could not satisfy him, no matter how hard we tried. At one point, Emilio put his horn down and said he’d have to beg off and leave because there was no way he’d ever be able to play this chart. He packed up and left. First there were 5, now there are 4. Well, JB had his tenor with him, so he and Steve put those tracks down and JB o/d’ed the bari. Lee and I eventually got the trumpets recorded. At gun point. Or so it felt.

Let me now tell you how I learned very early on that when you are playing with same people day in and day out, you learn what each individuals strong points are. Simple enough, right? That’s what made the TOP horn section so unique. This guy was just a maniac, as I said before, with an IBM pencil. This was his thesis paper for graduating Arranging 101. Somewhere on the second trumpet part I swear I saw the kitchen sink. Anyway, we got the job done. Don’t know if this recored came out. I think these guys were Barry Manilow’s backing band. I think.  And I never put this session on my resume. Noop! My motto: Less is more.

See you next week.

For more on Greg Adams go to www.gregadamsmusic.com

10. I don’t know what the big deal is, when we visited Oakland we almost got car jacked.

9. Earth to Mom. No one says “Funky” anymore that is sooo 70tys.

8. Love you Pop but I rather go to the dentist then to sit next to you with that raggedy Chicken fist shirt on.

7. …and Why do they play the same songs over and over every year?

6. Pop, the only way they would go to a nightclub would be to collect the rent.

5. Mom I swear, if you start dancing I will totally die.

4. Every year you front like you know them…

3. Dad, I need a picture phone so I can send pictures of the band to my friends, they all think TOP is awesome too.

2. Ok, I get it, they are way, way better than Chicago, but who is Chicago?

1. Hello?, you don’t have any soul.