"Saturday In The Park" (Chicago Cover) by Leonid & Friends, Reaction/Analysis by Musician/Producer

[@DOC36121]

No question, L&F is the best Tribute Band on the planet!

[@Beauty-and-the-Dia-betes]

I love how well Vasily and Sergey handled the back and forth here. Now it’s Vasily and Danil, Vasily’s English has improved drastically from here. Every time you post a reaction video for L&F I get to smile with how you bop around while it’s playing.

[@stevetsuda7474]

I love the people in the current band, but, it took 2 people to replace Sergey Kashirin. He was awesome in their live gigs!

[@megstsauveur6881]

Awesome song! Sergey killed it on the vocals! He is an incredible singer/ guitarist! ❤

[@janicemartin2016]

Another killer cover by L & F

[@timjwilkes3019]

The immaculate execution of this song is just like the 4th of July

[@billboroson2412]

Man, it really sounds like Leonid was trying to weave in the ending of The Beatles’ “You Won’t See Me” into the ending of this arrangement. If so, bravo Leonid!

[@Hettepop]

absolutely! I noticed that too right from the start.

[@scottyahney8565]

Leonid IS A GENIUS !!!

[@jimbizness3864]

I'll just state the obvious: Sergey Kashirin is a superior musician.

[@chuckrizzio5927]

And vocalist.

[@janicemartin2016]

Absolutely

[@brettd1949]

I’m glad that I got to see him live in Minneapolis while he was touring back in 2019

[@ridgemanron]

There are not enough superlatives to describe this super group of musicians and vocalists. I shut my eyes and I'm transported back to the days when Chicago could be heard on my car radio singing their hit songs like this one.

[@jeffreyjacobs390]

Beatles lyrics "OOH, OOH AAAH ..... " going to the sustained ending note WAS SO NATURAL a off script change - Great !!!

[@robertlieb4399]

There is another version of this that is fun to watch. L&F did a performance for the American Ambassador, Huntsman, and the ambassador offered to play along with them. And he ended up being a great player. And it was nice for the band to let him play along

[@Curly34584]

As always. They Nailed this one👍

[@samhaskins2506]

Thanks so much Jeff!!! Makes me smile every time I see you react in the same way I did when I first heard these amazing almost indistinguishable covers. The important thing is how the brain perceives the feeling you get from L&F's renditions namely exaclty the same as I had when I first head Chicago's original tracks! I must say, the bass line just drives this track! Awesome!I As we know, this is all done by ear and not sheet music, and then transposed from what was heard, Leonid has worked very hard to replicate the exact sound of the originally recorded track! It totally explains why the piano sounds so close!

[@joeonroute66]

Tickets have already been purchased for the Carmel stop in September. These guys and gal are amazing.

[@jwichman9]

These guys bring me so much joy. Teleport me back to the wonders of my youth!!

[@jahl14]

Question 67 & 68. You won’t be sorry!

[@lahoz6]

less war and more music ❤

[@andersmartinson1750]

They needed Vasily to handle Peter’s part, so it made sense to have him sing with Sergei. The tricky part is that Peter was doing a bit of high tenor/alto while Vasily’s voice is deeper. Still it was another beautiful and faithful (transcription and) performance.

[@sdanjohn]

I remember when this song came out. I was like 11 years old. Great spot on reaction as usual.

[@Hettepop]

i ‘ve been waiting such a long time…. for you to review this one. 😊 thank you for your honest opinion. This was another one of my early L&F favorites; As an OG Beatles fan (circa January 1964) I first realized the Beatles connection in the original Chicago song when I heard the “oooh oooh la la la’s” at the end. (homage to “You Won’t See Me”). Seeing Sergey’s Beatles T shirt just confirms it. Also, I always thought the lyric “Won’t you help him change the world?” referred to John Lennon. In any case, I loved your genuine joy while listening to this song. After 54 years, it’s so refreshing to hear L&F bring them to a new audience and your appreciation for them.

[@eduarddemeirsman7431]

I've seen a live performance on YT by L&F attended by the Ambassador of the US in Russia, playing with the band on keyboards. Oh ... that was a nice example of better, more peaceful times. The world was at that moment simply united by the harmony and magic of music. Leonid and Friends ... please, please come also to my country (Antwerp is a pleasant, wonderful medieval city with nice concert halls and a huge L&F-fanbase)! And Jeff, you're surely welcome too. Best regards from Belgium (Flanders).

[@markweber4854]

I knew you would love this one, Jeff! Sergey does a great job with the lead vocal I agree with you on Vasily's vocal too. It definitely has a "hard cut" feel when it comes in. I think Robert Lamm's compositions from this era of Chicago are my favorite!

[@pedrodeazevedoconceicaonet2969]

Sergey has the voice of Robert Lamm

[@Trapper50cal]

The other thing is that Vasily was still getting used to pronouncing English this early on.

[@kirkkimball-martinez2402]

Sergey really hit it out of the park on this one.

[@dbcanada]

Thanks, Jeff. Another great one from L&F. 👍

[@fredselbman3319]

They never disappoint !! 👏🏻😁 Bravo !!

[@naknaksdadn572]

Jeff, get those tickets now for the show because they sell out quickly!

[@StrateleStudios]

According to my sources I’m already set.

[@naknaksdadn572]

@@StrateleStudios Great!

[@bangosdemangos416]

I love this channel - I’m looking forward to knowing your reaction once you’ve seen L & F live and maybe met some of the personnel. I’m sure it’s going to be emotional . . .

[@StrateleStudios]

I’ll definitely be reporting on it!

[@stevepoorman9289]

I agree with your sentiment about the vocals. Otherwise a great rendition of this song.

[@markfarley671]

This would be a great time to re-record this song

[@donnewton415]

I have one of those gecko straps. They're REALLY old and you can't find them anymore. Oh, Leonid and Friends are great too. . .

[@davidlevine1697]

jeff, your reaction is awesome. i think the term gobsmacked might apply. isn't this typically 3 or more people? its all so well conceived and tied together because of that. its brilliant. ☮❤🙏

[@StrateleStudios]

🫶

[@davidlevine1697]

seem there was a copy and paste error on my part. my post should have contained this: when i read the credits at the end of each video i always come to the conclusion that due to the fact that Leonid is doing so much throughout the production that is what makes it all so good. he is not only transcribing the music, and playing killer bass, he is also doing the video montage. isn't this typically 3 or more people? its all so well conceived and tied together because of that. its brilliant.

[@StrateleStudios]

@@davidlevine1697 the man is a genius!

[@vegasatc]

Takes me back to ‘72 … how ‘bout you?

[@StrateleStudios]

Yes! 👏👏👏

[@davemccue9229]

I hope that someday Sergey and Serge can come back and rejoin the band.

[@valerielynn7256]

Where was serge to do the Peter parts or was this one made b4 he came in the band

[@redfox4098]

What amazes me is how tite they are. Is so hard to find any flaw musically. Multi task , better than alot of originals .

[@gregharmon3797]

If I have to be honest not as close as others but this is an early one I believe, still awesome

[@TheDivayenta]

It’s a conversation between Cetera and Lamb on the original as well. “ Can you dig it?” “ Yes I think so”

[@rgoers]

In Chicago's version, Robert Lamm sang the first part and Peter Cetera sang the second. Obviously Vasily doesn't sound anything like Peter Cetera and I am pretty certain this was recorded before Serge joined L&F. If he had sung the second part I suspect you would feel differently.

[@StrateleStudios]

Absolutely

[@maliabrown4390]

Man, you need to spread your desk out so you can get up and dance!

[@StrateleStudios]

@@maliabrown4390 😂🕺🏼

[@OkBoomerG4mer]

I agree with about Vasily. He just didn't have the right tone/harmony mix with Sergey. I thought Sergey nailed it, but I just didn't feel the chemistry and mix like the original.

[@ThomasAndersson-rl7ij]

I need a break. I think I have covered all your Leonid reaction for the last 24 hours.

[@StrateleStudios]

@@ThomasAndersson-rl7ij 😂🤣😂👏👏👏🫶

[@TheCybertiger9]

Yes the first thing I noticed while listening to the cut is the artist voice changes which i found somewhat distracting. Other than that job well down