I discovered Leonid and Friends two weeks ago, and haven't stopped playing them since. I'm a retired musician/music tutor and thought I'd seen and heard it all. I was a student when EW&F brought this out. It is not close to the original. IT IS HOW THE ORIGINAL SOUNDS. Leonid has got it absolutely spot on perfect. I'm so pleased that this band is showing that musicians bring the world together. Politicians push the world apart. Seeing this band makes me want to play music again. I hope I do. Even only as my tribute to Leonid and Friends
You said you aren’t familiar with this song…. Well you just heard it exactly as EW&F played it. What’s truly amazing to me, I saw an interview with Leonid and he said (at least for the Chicago covers) they had no written charts to arrange by. He totally arranges their charts by ear! If the same is true for this, he did an amazing job. Very true to the original.
It's even better than that. L&F's aim is to do live covers of other groups' studio recordings. EWF can't perform their own songs live and make them sound precisely like their own studio recordings, for example. Quite a feat.
Ive listened to both Chicago and EWF going back to the 80's and it's not just that musically hit the right notes, they capture EVERYTHING...the vibe, the rhythm, the spirit. They have an IT factor in their performances I can't describe, but actually gets me choked up it sounds so beautiful.
Love your reactions! As a longtime follower of EWF, this is a beautiful and awesome rendition of "In the Stone". Agree with you that every aspect of this arrangement was so tight and the balance of every instrument interwoven with the vocals. I found myself thinking, "THIS sounds almost better than the original!" The musicians not only are extremely talented but you can see the genuine joy and their passion playing this song.
L&F has no competition...they are the BEST at what they do...Horns, drums, guitars, orchestra, vocals are superb. Arrangements are impressive..Leonid has done things no one else has done!! 😀💥💥☝
In my opinion as a lifelong horn player who has played this song, Leonid & Friends have gone to another level of performance which is very difficult to replicate. To take something from Earth Wind & Fire and super enhance it to make it sound like this? Absolutely astonishing!
Bueno no lo mejora . Porque Earth Wind & Fire son los creadores. Además las voces de Maurice White ( en cielo este ) y Philip Bailey eran mejores. Además Earth Wind & Fire es el grupo de mi vida. Pero reconozco que es casi igual pero nun😮como el original. Pero solo se puede aplaudir y me alegro que la música de los Earth Wind & Fire se siga escuchando por que EWF es la mejor banda de la historia de la música
Omg, I´m just binging your Leonid & friends reactions... so much FUN!!! That lead singers voice just caught me byv surprise, very positively! At the end of another video of them was Russia/Ukraine written in the credits - love that statement in these crazy and volent times!!!
What an incredible cover. Sure hope this group is getting the notice it deserves. This was just a wonderful and flawless performance. And as always your comments were enthusiastic, informed and a delight to listen to.
A special comment for the arranger of EWF. Hear and enjoy the second line behind the vocals. Amazing peace of geniality! Please get the B/G, and listen to it. A few times I ve listened such a superb combination! It took me for a ride of emotions and feelings. Damn, this is musical talent!
I got to see them live in Birmingham, AL, a couple years' ago and they were just as good live! I have tickets to see them again in Oxford, AL, in March!
Believe me, as a long-time listener who has broken down every part of this song, this was the original studio version note for note. The horns, the strings, the percussions, the vocals, even the wooden sticks at the beginning. This was spot on. No embellishments. This was perfect. It was a joy to actually see, in real time, each part brought to life
I've been a huge EW&F fan since 1975. They are my favorite band--all genres. Leonid & Friends just KILLED this song (and all other EWF songs...and Chicago songs) These guys blow away whatever is currently passing these days for EW&F and Chicago!
Amazing isn't it? Music truly is the universal language. The next deep space probe needs to carry an inclusive catalogue of the music of earth, including these guys. To want something so bad that you do the transcribing, find the best musicians and convince them to join you.... I'm left speechless. It's not just good, it's the definition of excellence.
Wow, they did an amazing job. EWF would be proud I'm sure. As a life long fan of theirs, I have to say I'm very impressed. Not many bands could successfully pull of EWF and sound this good!
Earth, Wind & Fire is one of my favorite groups. I never thought I would hear anybody who could cover them the way Leonid & Friends did. Like you kept saying they are so tight. I have listened to almost everything that they’ve done on RUclips. Fantastic!
Love this, this group is amazing! The unsung hero in all of their tunes is the mixing. It sounds dead on to the originals. That's the first thing I keyed in on when I first heard them. What a group!
As a musician myself when you actually “Feel” the music and its meaning everything is as tight as can be, thus all the smiles! I so remember this feeling and its magic to say the least!
Another banger from Leonid & Friends, this again is another great cover which is very much a perfect reproduction of the original studio version, thanks for the reaction Jeff, I can't wait to see your reaction to Leonid & Friends version of Steely Dan's My Old School, I think you're gonna love it too.
Thanks for this, Jeff! I knew you would love it! It's very faithful to the original recording, but with today's recording and mixing technology, Leonid & Friends really take it to another level! 😊 I can't wait to see your reaction to Leonid & Friends version of Steely Dan's "My Old School". It's gonna be fun!!
I've been watching Leonid and Friends since I stumbled across their very first video when it first came out. Of all their amazing performances, this is one of my very favorites. It is spellbinding in its faithfulness to the original.
So good! They make me smile. Every time. Love Andrey's horn twirl at 4:03. He's no longer on the band, but Valery (far left) has filled his shoes nicely.
We know how good L & F are with Chicago and EWF material in particular but really is there anything off limits to this talented bunch of musicians? The answer is a hard no. Love your work and your enthusiasm Jeff. Keep it up 🤩🥳🎉👌
I grew up with EWF as well as Chicago, so can I definitely confirm the original is identical to the human ear. I challenge you to play the original side by side and you'll notice that even the timing is spot on! Thanks so much for appreciating this incredible band as much as I do. The very first time I heard them, I'm not ashamed to say, brought tears of joy from appreciating how faithful and accurate they are to the original recording.
This was just fire! Inpeccable, and EXACTLY the way, Earth, Wind and Fire did it. It is just great that their musical legacy is kept alive. Thank you very much for your great reaction as well as for your final words on keeping the dire political aspect out of artistic reviews. All the very best from Germany
Se te caen las medias y los calzones escuchando a ésta gente linda ... Cómo soplan esos caños son terribles lo que hacen saxo trompeta trombón son 6 y parecen 20 ... No me canso de escucharlos a todos son parejos el cantante primera voz más el coro son hermosos todos no tengo palabras ... Desde Buenos Aires Argentina gracias
Esos Chelos suenan enojados son increíbles me encantan el baterista con lo justo es el ritmo que hace los trompetistas son el fondo destacado mi hermano me enseñó a escuchar todos los instrumentos a parte de todo lo demás ... Son increíbles me emociona al escucharlos con tanta precisión y el gusto alegre con que lo hacen lo llevan dentro son músicos de gerarquia no me canso de escucharlos ... Soy de Buenos Aires Argentina saludos cordiales maestros !!
I've seen them 4 times and my 5th is coming this October. Their music is an feast for my ears. Makes us all feel we're back in the innocence of our youth!
Hello Mr. SMr. S...This group is amazing, and lets remember they are from Russia. That is a feat in its self. They also do Chicago covers that are awesome. Lets hear those. Especially with Leonid lead vocals. Thanks. You are doing an amazing thing here. Keep it up Eric in New orleans
Just love this group and their excellent covers, particularly E,W&F covers as they were one of my favourite bands during my youth. I just wanted to note how you commented on the little pause at the end of song, well I had this album by earth wind and fire which was titled “in the stone” the exact pause happened at the end of the track on the album the went straight into the next track, which was can’t let go. So perfection in their covers and amazing how true they keep to the original songs
The smiles on their faces you referred to - very sincere! Spending time with them before and after the shows they are always smiling and truly happy to be doing what they are doing. Re "My Old School" video they use two brothers who are not part of the band. But even when they perform live without those two, they still sound absolutely terrific!
I love the energy they put in to it...and the smiles. It`s like watching DL. Im so impressed by the guy on the claves. He has really been working out to be able to manage them
nice to have a studio pro appreciate the incredible-ness of l&f tributes as for fidelity of this cover, it is virtually note-for-note and perhaps (to my ear, anyway) better than the original "in the stone" has always been a favorite of mine, but it took a simultaneous left-right playback of both to fully understand how well leonid transcribed and mixed the tune... astounding keep up the good work, jeff!
Shows what having the right leader leading a band can do in terms of inspiration, joie de vivre, esprit de corps and just plain lovin' every spoonful of the dollops of the precious time they have together working! Would that we could all be so lucky as to be part of such a magical, immensely talented group and be led by a leader who HAS to be a genius of the highest caliber. Imagine if we had such as he - with political gifts leading our country right now? We wouldn't be in the fine kettle of fish we have been deliberately thrust into - oh well, 2024 is coming - and God willing - a new wind, that was once there before - will blow into town and right our ship of state the way Leonid and Friends play every work they undertake - pitch perfect and spot on!
Yes, Jeff. EVERYTHING you hear Leonid and Friends play is EXACTLY AS IT WAS ORIGINALLY RECORDED. EXACTLY. It doesn’t matter which chart, or which band. IT. IS. EXACT. Who else does this? NO ONE!!!!!!!!!!!
Loved it! After your review/reaction to L&Fs cover of My Old School, you really should go an additional layer deeper into the onion and listen to the Rox Bros cover of Bohemian Rhapsody. (They are featured in My Old School and Stormbringer covers and sit in in other studio versions from time to time…..HIGHLY skilled in their own right!
How many times have we confidently said .... There is none like = 1) CHICAGO 2) Earth Wind & Fire 3) Steely Dan ..... well THERE IS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Kudos you all, GBjj
I discovered Leonid and Friends two weeks ago, and haven't stopped playing them since. I'm a retired musician/music tutor and thought I'd seen and heard it all. I was a student when EW&F brought this out. It is not close to the original. IT IS HOW THE ORIGINAL SOUNDS. Leonid has got it absolutely spot on perfect.
I'm so pleased that this band is showing that musicians bring the world together. Politicians push the world apart. Seeing this band makes me want to play music again. I hope I do. Even only as my tribute to Leonid and Friends
You said you aren’t familiar with this song…. Well you just heard it exactly as EW&F played it. What’s truly amazing to me, I saw an interview with Leonid and he said (at least for the Chicago covers) they had no written charts to arrange by. He totally arranges their charts by ear! If the same is true for this, he did an amazing job. Very true to the original.
Sometimes they like to add their own hot sauce to it so wasn’t sure hahaha.
It's even better than that. L&F's aim is to do live covers of other groups' studio recordings. EWF can't perform their own songs live and make them sound precisely like their own studio recordings, for example. Quite a feat.
Ive listened to both Chicago and EWF going back to the 80's and it's not just that musically hit the right notes, they capture EVERYTHING...the vibe, the rhythm, the spirit. They have an IT factor in their performances I can't describe, but actually gets me choked up it sounds so beautiful.
NICE!! 👏🏾😄
@RobertClaeson no my friend I saw EWF live almost 45 years ago when the entire group was together and they sounded better than the studio recording.
Love your reactions! As a longtime follower of EWF, this is a beautiful and awesome rendition of "In the Stone". Agree with you that every aspect of this arrangement was so tight and the balance of every instrument interwoven with the vocals. I found myself thinking, "THIS sounds almost better than the original!" The musicians not only are extremely talented but you can see the genuine joy and their passion playing this song.
L&F has no competition...they are the BEST at what they do...Horns, drums, guitars, orchestra, vocals are superb. Arrangements are impressive..Leonid has done things no one else has done!! 😀💥💥☝
You are right on, they are fantastic!
It's a truly talented group of musicians in their own right, and together they're just amazing!
Your reactions are just like mine. They are consistently just amazing. I would love to see them in concert.
Master Maurice White a true genius!!!! God gifted!!
They all look like they are having the time of their lives smiling string section
In my opinion as a lifelong horn player who has played this song, Leonid & Friends have gone to another level of performance which is very difficult to replicate. To take something from Earth Wind & Fire and super enhance it to make it sound like this? Absolutely astonishing!
Bueno no lo mejora . Porque Earth Wind & Fire son los creadores. Además las voces de Maurice White ( en cielo este ) y Philip Bailey eran mejores. Además Earth Wind & Fire es el grupo de mi vida. Pero reconozco que es casi igual pero nun😮como el original. Pero solo se puede aplaudir y me alegro que la música de los Earth Wind & Fire se siga escuchando por que EWF es la mejor banda de la historia de la música
TIGHT yes!
Such beauty and precision. Reliving the 70s and 80s with this band.
Omg, I´m just binging your Leonid & friends reactions... so much FUN!!! That lead singers voice just caught me byv surprise, very positively!
At the end of another video of them was Russia/Ukraine written in the credits - love that statement in these crazy and volent times!!!
So good!
What an incredible cover. Sure hope this group is getting the notice it deserves. This was just a wonderful and flawless performance. And as always your comments were enthusiastic, informed and a delight to listen to.
A special comment for the arranger of EWF. Hear and enjoy the second line behind the vocals. Amazing peace of geniality! Please get the B/G, and listen to it. A few times I ve listened such a superb combination! It took me for a ride of emotions and feelings. Damn, this is musical talent!
Leonid also does the sound production. Saw them and cutie Daniil sing this live in San Jose!
The crazy thing is when you hear them perform live they're JUST AS GOOD!
I got to see them live in Birmingham, AL, a couple years' ago and they were just as good live! I have tickets to see them again in Oxford, AL, in March!
I am familiar with the original version and this version is spot on
It goes beyond tight with all these musicians! I always listen with my headphones, and every instrument is heard clearly! Amazing!
Me too❤ it’s unbelievably gorgeous all their songs
Watching you appreciate the work they do makes the performance even better. Thanks for the great reviews!
Thanks for watching!
Couldn't agree more, i get more out of seeing a professional with such admiration get blown away, thought it was just me!
It's the drummer !!!
Believe me, as a long-time listener who has broken down every part of this song, this was the original studio version note for note. The horns, the strings, the percussions, the vocals, even the wooden sticks at the beginning. This was spot on. No embellishments. This was perfect. It was a joy to actually see, in real time, each part brought to life
I've been a huge EW&F fan since 1975. They are my favorite band--all genres. Leonid & Friends just KILLED this song (and all other EWF songs...and Chicago songs)
These guys blow away whatever is currently passing these days for EW&F and Chicago!
Amazing isn't it? Music truly is the universal language. The next deep space probe needs to carry an inclusive catalogue of the music of earth, including these guys. To want something so bad that you do the transcribing, find the best musicians and convince them to join you.... I'm left speechless. It's not just good, it's the definition of excellence.
They have to be one of the best cover bands in the world right now 👏👏👏👌👌👌
BRAVO!!!
Brilliant cover, what a great choice!
they did a GREAT job with the song
Wow, they did an amazing job. EWF would be proud I'm sure. As a life long fan of theirs, I have to say I'm very impressed. Not many bands could successfully pull of EWF and sound this good!
Earth, Wind & Fire is one of my favorite groups. I never thought I would hear anybody who could cover them the way Leonid & Friends did. Like you kept saying they are so tight. I have listened to almost everything that they’ve done on RUclips. Fantastic!
PLEASE PLESAE PLEASE Do a review of Leonid and Friends - Vehicle anything these folks touch is perfection!
Love this, this group is amazing! The unsung hero in all of their tunes is the mixing. It sounds dead on to the originals. That's the first thing I keyed in on when I first heard them. What a group!
As a musician myself when you actually “Feel” the music and its meaning everything is as tight as can be, thus all the smiles! I so remember this feeling and its magic to say the least!
Another banger from Leonid & Friends, this again is another great cover which is very much a perfect reproduction of the original studio version, thanks for the reaction Jeff, I can't wait to see your reaction to Leonid & Friends version of Steely Dan's My Old School, I think you're gonna love it too.
Thanks for this, Jeff! I knew you would love it! It's very faithful to the original recording, but with today's recording and mixing technology, Leonid & Friends really take it to another level! 😊 I can't wait to see your reaction to Leonid & Friends version of Steely Dan's "My Old School". It's gonna be fun!!
Thank YOU John! 😊😊😊
I've been watching Leonid and Friends since I stumbled across their very first video when it first came out. Of all their amazing performances, this is one of my very favorites. It is spellbinding in its faithfulness to the original.
Pure joy.....best of the best
This is awesome. Love the joy on their faces as they play and sing. They make it so intriguing to watch. 👍
Fabulous.
Flawless!
So good! They make me smile. Every time. Love Andrey's horn twirl at 4:03. He's no longer on the band, but Valery (far left) has filled his shoes nicely.
Saw them live on their east coast 2023 tour amazing they have so much fun
Your smile and enthusiasm fill my heart with joy.
@@mbrookes1669 😊😊😊🫶
Thanks, Jeff. A great feel-good song played to perfection. Love it!
Ese final es una bomba 💣💣💣💣💥💥💥💥 se me eriza la piel son maravillosos...
Beautiful... The best cover band on earth. Love the energy all of them transmit.
We know how good L & F are with Chicago and EWF material in particular but really is there anything off limits to this talented bunch of musicians? The answer is a hard no. Love your work and your enthusiasm Jeff. Keep it up 🤩🥳🎉👌
It’s a rhythmic masterpiece. Kudos to EWF and Leonid and Friends. ❤
I grew up with EWF as well as Chicago, so can I definitely confirm the original is identical to the human ear. I challenge you to play the original side by side and you'll notice that even the timing is spot on! Thanks so much for appreciating this incredible band as much as I do. The very first time I heard them, I'm not ashamed to say, brought tears of joy from appreciating how faithful and accurate they are to the original recording.
EWF simply the BBEver !
Yes, you heard it amazingly JUST LIKE EW&F!!! EVEN BETTER BECAUSE THEY ARE SO TIGHT!!!!!,
THE HARDEST-WORKING TRIBUTE BAND IN THE BUSINESS TODAY! BRAVO!!!
What's stunning is English is not their first language
This was just fire! Inpeccable, and EXACTLY the way, Earth, Wind and Fire did it. It is just great that their musical legacy is kept alive. Thank you very much for your great reaction as well as for your final words on keeping the dire political aspect out of artistic reviews.
All the very best from Germany
Love it...!!! Your reaction is also excellent!!!
LEONID IS AGAIN A FREAKIN GENIUS !!!
Se te caen las medias y los calzones escuchando a ésta gente linda ... Cómo soplan esos caños son terribles lo que hacen saxo trompeta trombón son 6 y parecen 20 ... No me canso de escucharlos a todos son parejos el cantante primera voz más el coro son hermosos todos no tengo palabras ... Desde Buenos Aires Argentina gracias
This is why music is such a great thing !! Love ❤️
World-class musicians and singers. So tight is right! See them live this fall if you want a real treat!
Esos Chelos suenan enojados son increíbles me encantan el baterista con lo justo es el ritmo que hace los trompetistas son el fondo destacado mi hermano me enseñó a escuchar todos los instrumentos a parte de todo lo demás ... Son increíbles me emociona al escucharlos con tanta precisión y el gusto alegre con que lo hacen lo llevan dentro son músicos de gerarquia no me canso de escucharlos ... Soy de Buenos Aires Argentina saludos cordiales maestros !!
I think the energy in that yellow jacket could power a small town.
😂👏👏👏
Energy? Is that what they are calling it now?
Two words to define L&F : Joy and energy. Awesome group.
The joy on Leonids face 🙏❤️😎
Maravilhoso de mais, já foi analisado e avaliado por mim e é nota 10.
Perfeito em tudo !
My favorite EWF song and for me one of the best intros in history and this tribute for me surpasses it.... Amazing!!!!!😯😯😯
I've seen them 4 times and my 5th is coming this October. Their music is an feast for my ears. Makes us all feel we're back in the innocence of our youth!
And the love story continues !!! :-)
Superb...pit musicians fantasy come true. It all biends mixes in the pit & comes together powerful like ❤
When you hear the original version it will sound EXACTLY as this does. It is simply flawless.
It is so amazing how perfect it was!
Takes me back to the Summer of 1979! What an awesome cover! Definitely took In The Stone to higher heights! Great reaction!
Hello Mr. SMr. S...This group is amazing, and lets remember they are from Russia. That is a feat in its self. They also do Chicago covers that are awesome. Lets hear those. Especially with Leonid lead vocals. Thanks. You are doing an amazing thing here. Keep it up Eric in New orleans
She looks beautiful dancing
Spot on the original!
this was on the movie "Drumline"
Very respectful of the original..👍
Let's not forget that they're singing in a language that isn't their own!! To achieve all the little subtle nuances in English is astounding!!
Your reactions are incredible. You feel each note and it's so cool. ...hugs from Brazil
@@cesarnapoli1 awww thank you so much! 🫶
Just love this group and their excellent covers, particularly E,W&F covers as they were one of my favourite bands during my youth. I just wanted to note how you commented on the little pause at the end of song, well I had this album by earth wind and fire which was titled “in the stone” the exact pause happened at the end of the track on the album the went straight into the next track, which was can’t let go. So perfection in their covers and amazing how true they keep to the original songs
Yellow is my new favorite color.
The string section!
The smiles on their faces you referred to - very sincere! Spending time with them before and after the shows they are always smiling and truly happy to be doing what they are doing. Re "My Old School" video they use two brothers who are not part of the band. But even when they perform live without those two, they still sound absolutely terrific!
That guys are from Rox Bros, and they are really good. I just listened to their cover of "Bohemiam Rhapsody".
SO EXCITED THEY ARE COVERING EW& F NOW LOOOOOOVE IT❤❤❤❤❤❤
They are SPOT ON!!! They are the best of the best
It is spot on. The horns are perfect on the emphasis.
I did not really know the EWF original. All I know is this was jaw-dropping. BTW, thank you for wearing yellow again. It's been too long.
Ese final es tremendo !!! Un explosivo se me eriza la piel.... Señores ésto se llama MUSICA MUSICA MUSICA
Leonids ability to seek out the vocalist that most aligns to the original is beyond extraordinary.
I'm a huge Earth,Wind & Fire song and very familiar with "In the Stone". Leonid and Friends knocked it out of the park. They covered it very close
Bravo!!!
I love the energy they put in to it...and the smiles. It`s like watching DL. Im so impressed by the guy on the claves. He has really been working out to be able to manage them
nice to have a studio pro appreciate the incredible-ness of l&f tributes
as for fidelity of this cover, it is virtually note-for-note and perhaps (to my ear, anyway) better than the original
"in the stone" has always been a favorite of mine, but it took a simultaneous left-right playback of both to fully understand how well leonid transcribed and mixed the tune... astounding
keep up the good work, jeff!
Thank you my friend! 🫶
LOVE your reviews. And yes, these guys are the real thing. All of them!
Thank you my friend!
The other group you reviewed I enjoyed but, no one gets me hopping like Leonid and Friend's renditions of whatever they do!
Shows what having the right leader leading a band can do in terms of inspiration, joie de vivre, esprit de corps and just plain lovin' every spoonful of the dollops of the precious time they have together working!
Would that we could all be so lucky as to be part of such a magical, immensely talented group and be led by a leader who HAS to be a genius of the highest caliber.
Imagine if we had such as he - with political gifts leading our country right now? We wouldn't be in the fine kettle of fish we have been deliberately thrust into - oh well, 2024 is coming - and God willing - a new wind, that was once there before - will blow into town and right our ship of state the way Leonid and Friends play every work they undertake - pitch perfect and spot on!
OUTSTANDING❤❤!!
Yes, Jeff. EVERYTHING you hear Leonid and Friends play is EXACTLY AS IT WAS ORIGINALLY RECORDED. EXACTLY. It doesn’t matter which chart, or which band. IT. IS. EXACT. Who else does this? NO ONE!!!!!!!!!!!
They are simply the best!
Loved it! After your review/reaction to L&Fs cover of My Old School, you really should go an additional layer deeper into the onion and listen to the Rox Bros cover of Bohemian Rhapsody. (They are featured in My Old School and Stormbringer covers and sit in in other studio versions from time to time…..HIGHLY skilled in their own right!
Jeff, they just dropped "I say a little prayer" Motown is back! You've got too see it!
It sounds exactly like the original! I also love the joy on their faces.
The best I ever heard. You must do Speck of Dust by these guys.
They did that $hit!!! Wondered if someone could come close and they did it. Especially instruments. CLOSER THAN ANY OTHER!!!
How many times have we confidently said .... There is none like = 1) CHICAGO 2) Earth Wind & Fire 3) Steely Dan ..... well THERE IS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Kudos you all, GBjj