Now that's appreciation!

Wow! That's big respect.

Was never a big fan of much of the Carpenters music, but I always loved this song (even Sonic Youths weird cover). But I will always give Richard props for being a great keyboardist and music arranger.

Wow, that is awesome. When I first heard this cover, I wondered how Richard would react to it. It's good to hear that he welcomed Ksenia into his home. She did an amazing job, and it was a great tribute to Karen.

Leonid is the Bass player.

Agreed100 ❤

They are truly gifted musicians, and singers. NO DOUBT!!

I've seen them five times so far, and already have tickets for show #6.

Oh, I agree 100%. They are INCREDIBLE!! ♥

Yes

Igor is a MACHINE. PERFECT timing, EVERY time.

@@swiftmatic Yes, but he's more than that. His attention to detail is incredible as well. I think he one "those" who has tremendous innate ability that seems to easily go above the bar with practice. Most musicians have met people like this. I've stood ten feet from Ginger Baker during a rehearsal in 1969, stood backstage watching Keith Moon at a Who concert in 1970 and watched Mick Fleetwood from the first row at a concert in 1979, and my opinion of Igor is that he is a BEAST!

You are absolutely correct. Igor is one of the most talented and skilled drummers I have EVER heard! He is the quintessential backbone of a group of extremely talented musicians. I wish more drummers would understand the “More is not necessarily better” concept. I’ve been listening to Leonid and friends for almost 2 years now and my first reaction to experiencing their artistry was very much like yours! I always look forward to their you tube posts and can’t wait to see them in concert.

@@ronnedmunds7935 If you have not watched their cover of "One Fine Morning", paying very close attention to Igor, you really should. Even if you have seen it, you should watch it again because I guarantee you that you missed something. I've probably watched it a dozen or more times and I always find some little Igor gem that I missed before. There is SO much going on in that song, that it's easy to take the drums for granted, but it is a tour de force performance from a master.

@@theflash1425 Thanks. I have listened L&Fs cover of One Fine Morning many times and you are right; Igor REALLY shines here. So many superlatives come to my mind when I think about how to describe Igor’s playing. I believe the definition of the musical term “In the Pocket” should have links to several of Igor’s performances. Steve Gadd, Buddy Rich, Ed Shaughnessy, Neal Pert and Louie Bellson would most likely all have described Igor’s talent as God Give and God Blessed.

They also covered My Old School by Steely Dan. They are great. I saw them twice!

Arguably, better than the originals. I have been a huge Chicago fan since I was a pre-teen (late ‘60s). I’ve been blessed to see Leonid and friends twice now. Their superb musicianship never ceases to astound me.

Better than!

I actually prefer Leonid & Friends perform classic Chicago over the current lineup of Chicago.

They are so amazing live!​@@lyndarougeau2763

They continually amaze me with their beautiful mesmerizing talents🌹🌹🌹🌹

She does well on her breath control, but the timing of each breath is slightly early, especially during the verses. Kesnia seems to use the top of each breath instead of Karen's middle exhalation & then her bottom breath. Karen took small breaths perhaps because she was also playing the drums. I poured over The Carpenter's Greatest Hits album for years & learned each song with the audible breaths in those songs. That study, along with learning to breathe for staged plays & public speaking to sustain notes on short breaths leads me to this HO. It is Leo-nid on the bass, BTW. Leo (as in the astrological sign) nid rhymes with lid. I don't believe they use Leah (as in Laia/Leaha Luke's sister). I adore L& F and have been following them for years. Thank you for reacting to them!

Thank you for your perspective. 👍

So Beautiful. I Love It. I’m Crying 😢. But This Is Awesomen

So Beautiful. Awesome I Love ❤️ It Pete sr Siny

As a first time viewer of your channel, I loved watching your reactions to this Carpenter’s song. I’ve been a Leonoid fan for 4 years. As a diehard old-school Chicago fan, I am totally blown away how well this Russian group, that’s right, they are from Russia, can replicate any Chicago song, especially “Beginnings” and “Make Me Smile.” You must, must, must listen to their renditions of these 2 songs. I promise to watch!

@@jamesglynn3231Don’t know if you realized you are replying to my comment instead of posting to general comments. You are “preaching to the choir” as I already follow them and enjoy most of their songs like you do. We think alike 😊

@@Nancyshank I hate when that happens - LOL!!!!😁

Yes, she's very easy on the eyes and talented to boot.

I totally agree with you about their version of My Old School. 👍

Have not seen My Old School. Will have to search it. Hope there is more Steely Dan. Great catalog for L&F.

Thank you for this wonderful comment! This really looks like a group of positive and talented musicians!

I discovered them 6 years ago and because I’m in Canada I’ve only been able to see them twice but I will claim them as family any day! Ksenia knows how much I love her! Oleg does to!

Possibly the best cover Of a song I've ever heard they nailed it in every department 😮 .

A great comment, I wish I could give you 10 "thumbs up". Thank you for your personal insight to this fantastic group. I have been a fan for some time and am very pleased to hear these positive comments about them. I love them all but isn't the oboe player in this song just incredible? And I never thought I would ever make a comment about an oboe!

Ray, I really missed seeing you out on tour! I am sure we will meet again in the spring.

This is a spot-on description of their incredible talent and what amazes me is that what you hear in the video is pretty damn near what you'll hear in concert as well. I've seen them three times and met them twice - they are incredibly gracious, humble folks

El es

I am too...amazing performance#

Ksenia speaks english. My daughter took Russian in HS, it was not easy to get the accent right. I can imagine they all practice for hours to get it perfect on the songs.

I've heard her speak. She certainly isn't fluent and has a very heavy accent....not a criticism by any means!!...it simply shows how much work she put in to enunciate and sound like Karen's California/American accent.@@nancy9478

Blown away with their cover of My old school

😊😊😊

Absolutely right 👍

A difficult distinction to make. In spite what the casual listener may hear, different philharmonic orchestras play those old pieces differently, even changing the conductor may change the performance. The true classical music buffs may have several recordings of the same classic piece of music by different orchestras, because they are different. Without recordings of performances directed by the composer it is very difficult to tell how the music is supposed to be performed exactly. Some orchestras go out of their way to have the identical instruments, the same number of musicians on each instrument, and the original arrangements to come as close as possible to how it would have sounded at the time the composer directed his music. Although not common to say, those may be referred to as "tribute" orchestras in classical music. Standard symphonic orchestras play those same old pieces arranged to fit the orchestra's instruments and even then it's the conductor that tweaks the performance to the standards he deems appropriate. In affect they are playing "covers" which in no way is meant to demean them. It's like Santana playing "Black Magic Woman" originally by Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac; a fantastic song, but a cover none-the-less. Leonid Vorobyev could easily take a song, write an arrangement, and have several musicians perform that song and it would be a cover. But he doesn't. He takes the original recording, analyses it down to each individual instrument and writes the sheet music to recreate the exact tone, timbre, meter, and feel of the original recording of that single instrument. He than invites the very best musicians to play that music. That makes it a tribute; an attempt to come as close as possible to the original.

It’s outstanding and pure beautiful 🎉🎉🎉🎉

Man we had good music didn’t we?

@@StrateleStudios yes we did. I had many older siblings and had my parents 40s, brothers 50s, sisters 60s ,eveything from doo wop (still love it) to hard rock. What a great ers to grow up in.

I’ve got “Dialogue Part I & II” (Chicago Cover) coming soon. I could barely sit in my seat. You’re gonna get a kick out of it. Hahaha

And EW&F..!!!