Chase (Bill Chase)

Bill Chase is my fave Jazz/Fusion artist and many people don't seem to be familiar with his band Chase who released 3 albums (Chase, Ennea & Pure Music) before his untimely death at age 38. I'll post comments on all 3 of Chase's albums individually over time but this is to hold you over.

I guess Chase didn't make a good impression?

...I need to check this out, been busy at work and I can't "youtube" there. I'll get to it sometime this weekend.

Okay, I listened to that earlier. I realize now that I have heard these guys before, I read about them in a book on Jazz Rock, later checked them out at a friends house.

Jazz Rock is where I'd classify this (Chicago, Blood, Sweat & Tears, etc). There are elements I definitely like, especially the keyboardist who is quite impressive. The rhythm section is also accomplished. The things that detract from the overall are the horn charts which are fairly generic "white boy riff" kinda stuff, they work in segments but are overused here. It ends up being a little too much "bombast" for my tastes. The vocals are also a distraction.

Anyway, I'd like to hear more songs to get a better vibe off an entire album. I have a couple friends that are really into this band, so I'll give them a further study later.

Everything you find distasteful I find cool. I like the fact that the horns are "bombastic" which is why I like them better than other Jazz Rock bands. Great post though D, I can see why you'd say that.

Akeldama wrote:

Everything you find distasteful I find cool. I like the fact that the horns are "bombastic" which is why I like them better than other Jazz Rock bands. Great post though D, I can see why you'd say that.

You know, it's really just a taste thing. I'm not big into the Stan Kenton/Maynard Ferguson type of arrangements and that's where this stuff derives from mostly.

For horn arrangements I prefer people like Oliver Nelson and Gil Evans.

Yeah, Maynard Ferguson was a big influence on Bill Chase. I need to go back and jam some Oliver Nelson and Gil Evans, I 'd like to see where you're coming from. I have so much obscure Jazz Rock that I know you'd like now, once in a while I'll post some.

See if you can track down this CD, a great introduction to Gil Evans.


Gil Evans - The Individualism of Gil Evans (Verve)

Incredible album with some nice features for Wayne Shorter and Kenny Burrell

Will do.

Just listened to it now. The rhythm section is bad ass, the only thing I really don't like here is the vocalist, and the horn blasts are a bid redundant, but still a good song.

Whoa badass Akeldama, that track is actually really heavy. I dont mind the vocals so much it reminds me of motown funk type stuff like Rare Earth's vocalist.

Stender wrote:

Whoa badass Akeldama, that track is actually really heavy. I dont mind the vocals so much it reminds me of motown funk type stuff like Rare Earth's vocalist.

Yeah,I like the vox and it is a lot like Pete Rivera of Rare Earth.