Hall of Fame Pairing Brings Down the House at Mohegan Sun

MONTVILLE, CT - Music fans at the Mohegan Sun Arena became part of history Saturday night, as one of the world's best-known groups performed its first full concert since being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Less than 24 hours after Friday's induction ceremony in Brooklyn, jazz-rock veterans Chicago teamed with fellow Hall of Famers Earth, Wind & Fire for a dynamic show featuring 35 songs and a number of heart-stopping "wow" moments.

Both groups hail from the Windy City and feature three-man horn sections, but the similarities end there. However, their second year of touring together has brought a cohesion that amazed even the casual fan.

The show opened with both bands playing together - 21 men strong belting out terrific renditions of Chicago's "Beginnings" and EWF's "In the Stone."

After congratulating their counterparts for their long-overdue Hall of Fame honor, EWF played a 12-song set that included a brief video tribute to its late founder, Maurice White, who passed away in February.

White's brother, Verdine, once again proved to be the consummate showman, bouncing athletically around the stage with an ever-present wide grin as he played some funky bass grooves, including an extended bass solo in mid-set.

Lead singer Philip Bailey shared the stage with two of his sons, including a surprise appearance by 12-year-old Jalil, who demonstrated some of his dad's vocal prowess. The elder Bailey, soon to be 65, proved he still has an incredible set of pipes as he covered a four-octave range during "Reasons."

The band performed hits such as "Boogie Wonderland," "Devotion," "After the Love Has Gone," "Got to Get You Into My Life" and "Let's Groove" before turning the stage over to Chicago.

Celebrating its 50th anniversary as a group, Chicago has four original members still active: keyboardist/vocalist Robert Lamm, trombonist James Pankow, trumpeter Lee Loughnane and saxophonist/flutist Walter Parazaider.

Versatility in song selection was apparent during the band's 14-song set, ranging from ballads like "Hard to Say I'm Sorry," "You're the Inspiration" and "Just You 'n Me" to more uptempo selections such as "Call On Me," "Saturday In the Park" and "Feelin' Stronger Every Day."

A performance of the hit "Make Me Smile" segued into the wedding standard "Colour My World," featuring Parazaider's haunting flute, then returned for a reprise of "Make Me Smile." A cover of the Spencer Davis Group's "I'm a Man" was highlighted by a four-minute drum/percussion exhibition by Tris Imboden and Walfredo Reyes, and Pankow in particular presented an animated performance throughout the show.

The only part of the show worthy of even the slightest criticism was some vocal difficulty on a couple of occasions by bassist Jason Scheff. For more than 30 years, Scheff has been the main singer of the group, following the 1985 departure of original bassist/vocalist Peter Cetera for a solo career. He seemed to encounter some rough spots during some Cetera-penned ballads, notably on " Hard Habit to Break."

Earth, Wind & Fire rejoined Chicago for a stunning six-song finale which flowed seamlessly: "September," "Free," "Sing a Song," "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is," "Shining Star" and "25 or 6 to 4." Not one seat was occupied during the closing set, as more than 9,000 fans clapped, danced and sang along with the bands.

Even after more than 45 years, both groups showed they've still got what it takes to perform great music and pull off a nearly three-hour show without missing a beat. They also proved how worthy each is of the accolades they've received over their careers.

Photo credits: Tim Jensen