Search - California Transit Authority :: FULL CIRCLE

Danny Seraphine Returns With a Vengeance

Rik22 | New York | 07/27/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For those not familiar with Danny Seraphine, he was a founding member and the original drummer for the legendary band Chicago from 1967 through 1990. He is also considered one of the great stylists and innovators on his instrument, forging a unique jazz-based rock style that propelled his supergroup through 20 top ten hits, 16 million-selling albums and numerous sold out concerts around the world for millions of fans. After Danny was "fired" by the group in 1990, he went into seclusion and put his drums aside. Following years of production projects in the sudio and even Broadway, Danny got back into form in recent years with the inspiration of top industry musicians. His jam sessions resulted in the formation of "CTA" and now the release of this studio work with a wonderful mix of Chicago classics and originals and other rock standards. Bottomline: Every track works and every track cooks. Danny's drum chops are back intact as he leads this band of top flight musicians with the amazing Marc Bonilla on guitar and Tower of Power's incredible Larry Braggs on vocals. Yes, Danny Seraphine is back, back with a vengeance and showing the world a return to the original musical inspiration that made the early Chicago great. While his former bandmates earn a paycheck entertaining the wine and cheese crowd with Peter Cetra covers like "If You leave Me Now" Danny and CTA are playing real music for the sake of the music itself and blowin' the door down.

"California Transit Authority" is a superb CD and is a must listen for all Chicago fans and fans of rock music in general. The current members of Chicago could also stand to listen to this exciting work as a reminder of what they set out to accomplish musically in 1967, while using "Chicago XXX" as a coaster for their drinks."

THIS is the Terry Kath Chicago

Somedaze.com Fan | Washington, DC | 06/27/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album is OUTSTANDING. Why in the hell are we not hearing more about these guys???!!!! Terry Kath Chicago fans UNITE! CTA is the REAL deal, and the new songs fit well and show this group has fantastic potential. With all the hubbub about the latest release of Chicago's "lost" Stone of Sisyphus, I think I'm going to puke. The reviews for SOS all sound like old fans trying to convince themselves that SOS is the best since the Terry Kath days and that they should be excited and happy. It might be best, but it is still a gigantic cry from that early magic. Chicago since Terry Kath's passing and even the "transitional" Hot Streets album is a completely different band and should have changed their name. All the blues and grit from the early days has continued to be replaced with slick production, synthesizers, and seriously stripped down guitar. California Transit Authority DOES have that early magic, and I hope and pray they can continue to create and perform. The WORD must get out. And before you get the idea these guys are just an old Chicago cover band, forget it! They add their own spice and the new songs show they are every bit as inovative and appealing. Be prepared to be blown away.



It is truly tragic that Pankow, Loughnane, Parazaider, and Lamm are not a part of Danny's new adventure. The songs are polished, the sound is GREAT, and, if they are honest with themselves, as musicians (with any personality conflicts set aside), I would imagine they would be crying inside not having been part of this wonderful project.



When I first heard that the brass sound on the tracks was done on keyboard, I thought it would sound nothing but cheesy. NO WAY. No way at all. In fact, when I listen to the tracks, I cannot tell the difference except on 25 or 6 to 4 which, I believe, was done live. I can easily imagine that Pankow, Loughnane, and Parazaider made the studio sessions in secret, but due to contractual obligations, they are not credited. Wouldn't that be a gas?! Anyway, time will tell if the band can pull off some new tunes that equal or surpass Pankow's inovative big brass sound.



The new musicans really, really cook!!! Marc Bonilla is fantastic find. Though no one can replace Kath, Bonilla has his own magic and the playing is phenomenal. He definitely HAS the down and dirty blues. Larry Braggs from Tower of Power is a perfect fit for the group. All the other musicans are just great, and they play tight.



One more comment. I already knew that Danny was a rock drum genius, but this album makes it painfully clear he was an extremely essential ingredient to the early Chicago sound.



If you like the Terry Kath Chicago, this is an absolute must buy. RIGHT NOW!"

CTA - Welcome Back Home! 5 Stars.

Michael Luby | Chicago, IL | 06/15/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Full Circle, a debut album from the recently formed California Transit Authority, features, among its 13 tracks, nine covers of songs made famous by the group Chicago in its early jazz-rock years (1969 - 1972). California Transit Authority, also known as CTA, includes Danny Seraphine, the original drummer with Chicago, guitarist Marc Bonilla, vocalist Larry Braggs (Tower of Power), Mick Mahan on bass (Sophie B. Hawkins), six-time Emmy winning keyboardist Peter Fish, Edward Harris Roth (Coolio) on keyboards, and conga player Walter Rodriguez who joined CTA after the recording of Full Circle.

Thanks to bands such as The Electric Flag, Sly and the Family Stone, Blood, Sweat and Tears, and Buddy Miles Express/Buddy Miles Freedom Express, the late '60s and early '70s blossomed into a heyday for the big-band-rock-jazz sound, which no group took to greater heights than The Chicago Transit Authority, also known simply as CTA. Formed in 1967, the original CTA consisted of Terry Kath (guitar, vocals), Danny Seraphine (drums), Peter Cetera (bass, vocals), Robert Lamm (keyboards, vocals), Walter Parazaider (saxophone, woodwinds, vocals), James Pankow, (trombone), and Lee Loughnane (trumpet, vocals). Though, of course, originally from Chicago, they moved to Los Angeles in 1968 and the next year saw the release of their self-titled debut album. Soon after, the group was renamed Chicago, the result of legal threats from the city of Chicago's official Chicago Transit Authority.



Danny Seraphine served as Chicago's drummer for 23 years until ousted in 1990. A 17-year hiatus followed, until his friend, keyboardist Peter Fish, persuaded him to play again, telling Seraphine, "Before I die I'd like to be in a band with Danny Seraphine." Seraphine then met guitarist Marc Bonilla at a jam session, the two clicked, and California Transit Authority was soon formed with Seraphine, Bonilla, Fish, and several musicians (listed above) Bonilla had worked with on other projects.



While the album title no doubt refers to Seraphine's return to some of the songs that helped launch the Chicago legacy, from a listener's standpoint, Full Circle is primarily about guitarist Marc Bonilla. Chicago's original guitarist, Terry Kath, who passed away in 1978, is recognized as one of the finest players ever, so any project like this is bound to put the guitarist to the test. Bonilla, who is also responsible for a good portion of the arranging, passes with flying colors. While there are Kath tribute moments on some tracks where Bonilla produces tones similar to Kath's and includes several key phrases from Kath solos, Bonilla has his own bag of tricks that should more than satisfy most Kath fans.



Devotees of the early Chicago catalog will debate the inclusion of some tracks and the omission of others, but considering the large amount of quality material The Chicago Transit Authority/Chicago recorded in the first four years (1969-1972) of their studio career, it would be impossible to please everyone. California Transit Authority is not a tribute band. Their goal was not to re-visit, but to re-vitalize a sampling from the early albums, most likely hoping to introduce this body of work to new listeners who may be more familiar with the last 25 or so albums released by Chicago.



The album contains three instrumentals: "Something Different," "Make Me Smile,", and "Antonio's Love Jungle." "Something Different," written by Chuck Mangione and originally recorded by Cannonball Aderley, is the album opener. It's a Marc Bonilla arrangement, and features his excellent guitar work - his style is an ideal match for a horn section. The first track is followed by "Introduction" from The Chicago Transit Authority. Those familiar with late '60s through mid-'70s jazz-rock horn band live performances will recognize something when they hear the first two numbers - they work together as an extended introduction. Bands like this would often open with an instrumental to let the players warm up, especially the horn players. If it was the first set of the night, it took a few songs before the audience would get up and dance, so this was the perfect time to play some energetic "listening music." On the second number, "Introduction", the vocalist takes the stage, introduces the band (as a whole), and the party starts in earnest.



The instrumental version of "Make Me Smile" on Full Circle should appeal to guitar fans. It's patterned after the extended album version of "Make Me Smile" that included an excellent Kath guitar solo not heard on the shortened radio version. "Antonio's Love Jungle," a Marc Bonilla original, features a drum solo by Seraphine that will leave you wondering how he was able to get back in the saddle so quickly after a 17-year lull.



Full Circle includes two more non-Chicago tracks: "Several Thousand" and "Dreams." The first is a pleasant stroll with an early-Chicago-like arrangement and smooth singing from guest vocalist Wes Quave. "Dreams" is a welcomed surprise inclusion. Written by Gregg Allman (it appears on the Allman Brothers 1969 self-titled debut album), the version presented here is patterned after the Buddy Miles arrangement recorded on Miles' 1970 album, Them Changes. If Full Circle is primarily about Marc Bonilla, ample credit must also be given to singer Larry Braggs whose voice does justice to both original Chicago members and the legendary Buddy Miles.



Three more special guests appear on Full Circle. Sheila E. (timbales) and Alex Acuna (congas) join the band for a rousing version of "I'm A Man" that features an organ solo by Keith Emerson (Emerson, Lake & Palmer).



Overall, Full Circle is a great listen for jazz-rockish-electric guitar fans. Bonilla shines. So do the vocals of Larry Braggs and Seraphine certainly doesn't miss a beat despite the hiatus. If you are able to catch the band in concert, don't expect a live horn section. Odds are the horn parts will be delivered by keyboard synths and Bonilla, who's very talented at replacing horn parts with his guitar. Will California Transit Authority extend beyond this first release? Probably depends upon the success of Full Circle and how much they continue to enjoy working together. Since there's no official State of California Transit Authority, at least they won't have to go through the hassle of changing their name to California.



Track Listing

Something Different (instrumental)

Introduction (original appears on The Chicago Transit Authority)

South California Purples (original appears on The Chicago Transit Authority)

Make Me Smile (instrumental) (original appears on Chicago, also known as Chicago II)

Several Thousand

Dreams

West Virginia Fantasies (original appears on Chicago, also known as Chicago II)

Colour My World (original appears on Chicago, also known as Chicago II)

Happy Cause I'm Going Home (original appears on Chicago III)

Mississippi Delta Blues (original appears on Chicago V*)

Antonio's Love Jungle (instrumental)

I'm a Man (original Chicago version appears on The Chicago Transit Authority - a cover of the Steve Winwood/Jimmy Miller song made famous by The Spencer Davis Group)

Bonus Track: 25 or 6 to 4 (live) (original appears on Chicago, also known as Chicago II)

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