The Sons of Champlin at Black Oak Casino
2.17.06

by Debbie Stewart

Rock legend Bill Champlin and ‘Sons’ will perform at Black Oak Casino March 1.

On Wednesday, March 1 at 9 p.m., the legendary San Francisco rock and roll band Sons of Champlin will appear at the Willow Creek Lounge in Black Oak Casino. The Sons of Champlin are very much a part of the rich tapestry that was the San Francisco music scene of the Fillmore and Avalon Ballrooms. Their funky Hammond B-3 and horns sound was utterly distinctive and quite unlike the rest of the Bay Area’s psychedelic guitar bands.

Celebrating the human spirit, philosophical themes driven by funk infused R&B and jazz based tempos continued to set the Sons apart. Often hard to define because of their eclectic mix of material, the Sons were playing acid jazz before it had a name. Always known for their outstanding musicianship, they have become the benchmark against which other players have measured their chops.

The Sons released seven albums between 1968 and 1977. After a 20-year hiatus, the Sons reunited for a series of successful reunion gigs in 1997. In cooperation with Grateful Dead Records, the Sons recorded and released their first ever "live" CD in 1998. The earlier studio releases never quite captured the magic of their live shows. Quoted in the San Francisco Chronicle, the Grateful Dead's Mickey Hart said of those earlier shows, "they were breathing fire... they were the most talented of all the bands." Early in 2002 Bill Champlin agreed it was "too good not to continue." In an extraordinary partnership with the Expression Center for New Media located in Emeryville, the Sons are back on stage and back in the recording studio. The newly released CD and DVD, "Secret," captures the magic of the Sons at their best, not just live ... but Alive.

The Sons of Champlin members are an eclectic mix of talented musicians who have seen a great amount of success in their own right. Bill Champlin on vocals, organ and guitar appears with original members Geoff Palmer on keyboards, vibraphone, and baritone sax; bassist David Schallock; and drummer James Preston are joined by guitarist Carmen Grillo and Tower of Power alumni Mic Gillette, who frequently appears locally as part of the Columbia College Jazz Series. The Sons of Champlin released “Hip Li'l Dreams” in the fall of 2005. The album contains a soulful mix of dynamic and energetic songs worthy of repeated many listenings. And if you dig into the lyrics and arrangements, you will find an ingenious complexity of lyrics and musicianship.