Leonid & Friends are all Moscow-based musicians who started out by doing unbelievable covers of Chicago, doing about a dozen, and then branching out to cover other bands that use a lot of brass and complex music, from Steely Dan to Earth, Wind and Fire. Their main singer for most of their years was the only non-Russian, a Ukrainian who was separated from the rest of the group when Russia invaded Ukraine -- he sang all of the Chicago covers and to my ear is a better singer than Peter Cetera. The group is led by bassist, arranger and producer Leonid Vorobyev -- in this song he's wearing a red, tie-die looking shirt while playing the bass, who both recruits the other players and transcribes all the music for each instrument from the originals. None of them speak much English, at least not their first few years recording, but learned the lyrics anyways. They've had a few American tours and I believe are on tour now. Among my favorites are Chicago's 25 or 6 to 4 and Steely Dan's My Old School.
He's a great singer, but he didn't sing all the Chicago covers. Like Chicago, Leonid and Friends had three different lead singers with very different voices. Each one sang the songs that their voice most clearly matched.
The mind blower for most folks when they hear this is that this isn't New York City, Los Angeles, Nashville or anywhere else like that. This is MOSCOW, RUSSIA, and some of these folks barely even SPEAK English, much less sing it! They tour the USA every year. I've seen them perform twice in the past 2 years, and again this October. They're every bit as good live!
I have played this for some of my friends who are big EWF fans and they totally freaked out when they heard this. Even better with Chicago. they kick ass
Right? Come check out my other reaction channel, "The Speak Easy Lounge". A lot more variety there...Cheers! Lives on Wednesdays at 7pm eastern. We have a blast!
I was on the front row at one of their concerts a few months back and they were as amazing live as they are on their videos. I can't wait to see them again. They did Chicago, Earth Wind and Fire, Blood Sweat and Tears, Ides of March, Tower of Power and Chaka Khan and now I heard they've added The Carpenters. To me they always sound as good or better than the originals. I'm glad they are able to tour in the USA with the war going on between Russia and Ukraine. You should certainly listen to much more by this group.
One of my favorite bands... check out their back story... how did they come to start with Chicago covers? I saw them once in Birmingham, AL, and they are one of the few bands that sound just as amazing live as on videos. I have tickets to see them again.
Since you enjoyed that, you really, really must listen to Leonid and Friends cover "September" and "In The Stone". This assemblage of top talent is amazingly good. Trust me you won't be disappointed. You should also listen to their amazingly good covers of Chicago songs.
Ladies, this band started without sheet music, since they could not get any in Russia at that time, so Leonid, the guy on guitar in the red print shirt in the video, wrote the music phonetically and then picked his peers for this band. They also do an awesome job on Chicago songs. They also don't speak English fluently and again are mostly just using phonics as a tool to sing English.
Jennifer, you may not remember but I played this band a couple of times months ago. I played some of the Chicago covers. Excellent vocalists and musicians. They have gone through a couple of phases with different lead singers and some musicians. They're lead singer had to leave about a year or so ago so others taken the role at least temporarily.
I have seen the video for 10, 20 times, and the voice of the guys at min. 05.30 and then min 06.00, is fantastic, is amazing. Ksenia Buzina is lovely, and she got beautifull voice.
They are primarily a Chicago tribute band but are branching out and doing other bands like EW&F. They are from Russia and are currently touring (without the strings) in the U.S. I saw them a week ago in Indiana. They are as good live as on RU-vid. They played for almost 3 hours and were AMAZING!!
You should give their version of Superstar .... Richard Carpenter's arrangement. Everything they do is outstanding!!! One Fine Morning cover is great as well.
I wouldn't call this a tribute band. They are a cover band because they cover more than one artist. They do a tremendous amount of Chicago covers as well as Earth wind & Fire and a couple more. Incredible musicians!
What is even more amazing is that Leonid transcribes all the instrumentation and vocals from the original recordings as American sheet music is unavailable in Russia.
Leonid & Friends are not an Earth Wind and Fire cover band. They first covered Chicago and other bands before they covered EW&F. And you shouldn't talk over the song. Or pause it.
Is the lady on the right breathing or even more is she alive. She just sat there, no emotion, no movement nothing, nada. At first I thought it was a full size doll till she messed with her hair. I think maybe she said 3 - 5 words and that was it. The one on the left needs to get a different partner. This time put a mirror under her nose and see if she is alive....and can talk and move
What is wrong with the lady to the right. She doesn't look well. Leonid and Friends have been around being excellent for around 10 years. They are a tribute band. Not a cover band. Leonid aranges every note you hear the singers and band members play. He is a genius.
I think that I am for the most part. I don't care who's singing, I just know that if I like it, I will definitely listen to more of it! lol. "September" is still one of the greats by E,W &F!
