By Popular Demand:
Sons Prove Their Groove in Portland

By Jonathan Smith
March 1999 Jazzscene Magazine

After such a long absence, promoter Tip Hanzlik hoped Portland would remember the Sons of Champlin. It had been years since they'd been here and he wanted the show to sell out. Then, two weeks before showtime, it not only sold out, but there was high demand for more tickets! "I guess that is a nice problem to have," said Hanzlik. Although the February 5th show was not listed in the Jazz Scene calendar, it would not have been entirely out of place.

The Sons of Champlin embarked on their musical journey in 1969, sporting a horn section, Hammond B3 organ, vibes, and the burning hot vocals of Bill Champlin, who even did some scat singing! This instrumentation, coupled with their soul-funk sound, was virtually unheard of among their SF contemporaries during the "psychedelic" years. Without a doubt, this band has great crossover appeal; one that escorted many baby boomers into the jazz and blues arena. These guys were truly playing fusion before jazz-rock "fusion" was defined.

On February 5, the seven-piece Sons ensemble played to a capacity crowd at the Aladdin Theater in Portland. The three-hour performance showcased the versatility and timelessness of the band's music, as well as the depth of their musicianship. Vocalist Bill Champlin, equally at home singing the tender ballad Time Will Bring You Love as he is belting out the low-down blues on Tobacco Road, continues to show his stuff, bringing audiences to their feet. Champlin's Grammy-winning vocals can also be heard with the band Chicago, and as the voice singing the theme song for the television series In the Heat of the Night.

Guitarist Terry Haggerty is the epitome of the unsung hero. The technical prowess of his playing is phenomenal. Whether he is caressing the sweetest blues, punctuating a rhythmic funk tune, or exploding with climactic expression, his solo work is spellbinding. How this guy ever escaped the seventies without becoming a household word is a mystery! Geoff Palmer, the band's jack-of-all-trades, was heard on keyboard, organ, and vibraphone, showing dexterity on all; contributing some fine solo work on vibes.

The Sons' horn section is comprised of Tom Saviano on saxes and Mic Gillette, on sabbatical from Tower of Power on trumpet and trombone. While both of these players did an excellent job, Saviano treated the audience to an extended solo on Freedom, taking it "outside" the changes and beyond. Backed by the solid core foundation of David Shallock, electric bass, and James Preston, drums, this group has definitely matured - but not mellowed - with age.

The performance included a mix of new and old, but offered endearing fans an ample sampling of the familiar, including dynamite versions of Hey Children, Hold On, The Swim, First and Last, No Mo', and Rooftop.

Though the Sons say they will be back, the next performance is not yet booked. For those so inclined, however, a 1998 CD release, titled simply Live, provides an accurate audio portrayal of the energy and genius of the band. Hanzlik aptly sums it up, saying "these guys are too much."