Throaty trombonist leader of the Chicago Horns, a sextet minaturization of the big band in the style of Art Blakey's expanded 1960's Jazz Messengers played with Albert Collins, Fenton Robinson, Lonnie Brooks, Aretha Franklin, Etta James, and Otis Clay Of the Chicago Horns, Chicago Reader jazz critic Neil Tesser says, "You almost can't go wrong with a lineup like Bill McFarland's: a potent hard-driving outfit that matches his throaty trombone with a beef-stew saxophonist (in this case Hank Ford) and a fluent, octave-stretching trumpet ace (Kenny Anderson).
The Chicago Tribune's Howard Reich adds, "This band's taut rhythms, its front line's muscular quality and its rhythm section's aggressiveness made the Chicago Horns sound more like a small jazz symphony than the hard hitting sextet it is."
Sam Soda is the pianist. Trumpeter Kenny Anderson not only plays with the Chicago Horns, but also with McFarland in Malachi Thompson's Africa Brass, and is one of Chicago's leading salsa performers. Saxophonist Hank Ford has played with Aretha Franklin, Jerry Butler, and Curtis Mayfield as well as on "The Wiz" and Duke Ellington's "Sophisticated Ladies" stage shows. They are accomanied by bassist Mike Staron and drummer Rick Vitek.
They have two CD albums, "Fire Horns" & "Fire Horns Alive & Live" on Sopro Records, and a new DVD release 'Fire Horns Totally Live' on the Sopro Records label. Both CD's and the new DVD are available for purchase through the Sopro Music website.
For more information, visit their website: http://www.SoproMusic.com
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