The Session is a Power Trio comprised of
Mike Szabo (guitar & vocals)
John Fortune (bass & vocals)
Mac Leckrone (drums)
meet the band
John Fortune
John Fortune is a passionate guitarist, singer-songwriter, and bass player with a deep love for creating and sharing music.
John’s sound draws from a vibrant mix of Caribbean rhythms, smooth jazz grooves, funky bass lines, and even the raw edge of grunge.
John studied guitar at Musician’s Institute in Hollywood, CA in 2007, and returned to MI in 2017 to study Pro DAW.
John released, “Tried and True,” in 2019, and maintains his own studio where he collaborates and records music with his growing community of musical friends.
What drives John most is collaboration—jamming with fellow musicians, spontaneously co-creating in the moment, and building connections through sound. John thrives on playing with everyone, from intimate sessions to lively groups, and loves meeting new people who share his love for music.
Bass Guitar & Lead Vocals
Mac Leckrone
From the moment Mac heard “Fragile” (Yes) in 1974, he couldn’t take his ears off the drum set. Mac spent his early years digging into the works of Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Jean-Luc Ponty, Thin Lizzy, and Rush.
Mac has been part of numerous original rock and fusion groups over the decades … hauling his ‘69 Rogers drums from gig to gig in Santa Barbara, and around the San Francisco Bay Area at venues like The Cabaret and JJ’s (San Jose), Lord John’s (Santa Clara), The Wooden Nickel (Campbell), The Omni Ballroom (Oakland), and the I-Beam and The Stone (San Francisco).
While attending Musician’s Institute in Hollywood in 1990, Mac collaborated with original funk brother Wah-Wah Watson on his remake of Inner City Blues, and from then on, has primarily focused his drum studies on R&B.
Mac has recorded with many artists over the decades (such as David DeMordaunt, and Mystery Farmer), and takes joy in writing, recording, and producing music and events (such as the Bend Blues Fest).
Drum Set
Lead Guitar & Lead Vocals
Mike Szabo
Mike Szabo is a guitarist and vocalist with a deep love for music that moves the soul. MIke is inspired by artists who play with feeling rather than flash — from the improvisational spirit of Jerry Garcia, Derek Trucks, Warren Haynes, Marc Ford, and Mick Taylor, to the soulful sounds of Otis Redding, Al Green, and Marvin Gaye. Early influences like the Allman Brothers, Led Zeppelin, Guns N’ Roses, the Rolling Stones, and The Mother Hips helped shape his approach, but for Mike, music needs to have soul to truly capture his attention.
Mike has spent the last 25 years refining his craft, playing in a few select bands and jam sessions across the West Coast — including the popular Bigfoot County. Through these experiences, he has developed a deeply expressive, improvisational style that prioritizes feel and connection over technical flash.
In The Session, a tight-knit trio, he has stepped into a more prominent frontman role, showcasing his developing voice and signature heavy guitar riffs. The trio allows him to fully embrace his improvisational instincts while connecting directly with audiences, creating performances that are both heartfelt and electrifying.
