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Photoi by Gail Folda
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Chase follows up
on dynamite debut
Review by Larry Kubert
After an almost unbelievably successful debut
year, many groups might tend to sit back on their
laurels. Not so with Chase.
Cornering several awards in the latest Down Beat
Readers' Poll-first in Pop Album of the Year, second -in
the RockPopBlues Group category and leader Bill
Chase, for whom the group is named, placed second
as Pop Musician of the Year and fifth in the trumpet
category-as well as approaching the 400,000 mark in
sales of their initial album, Chase, the nine member
group is just kicking into second ftar.
Utilizing a four-trumpet plus guifrs, bass, organ,
drums, vocalist arrangement. Chase's second album
on the Epic label, Ennea, is every bit as good, if not
better than their first one.
Although there's more jazz on Ennea than on the
group's first album. Chase hasn't sacrificed its rock
sound. It has simply tempered and improved.
Leader Bill and the other three trumpeters are a
driving force throughout the record, not letting up
for a moment Especially pleasing is a four-way
trumpet battle on "Woman of the Dark." But the
brass doesn't dominate the group's sound, when the
organ or guitar comes in, you know it . . because
they are mighty good.
There have been some slight personnel changes in
the band, but this hasn't hurt. G.G. Sham has
replaced Terry Richards as lead vocalist Sh inn's gutsy
voice has more color and excitement to ft than
Richards' did. Richards was good. . . but Shirtn n j
better.
Drummer Jay Burrid has left the band although he
does play on a couple of the cuts, but he has been
replaced by Gary Smith, who more than adequately
fills Burricfs shoes.
One side of Ennea is devoted to Greek mythology.
The suite, entitled "Ennea," is based on legendary
Greek gods; including "Cronus (Saturn)," "Zeus
(Jupiter)' "Poseidon (Neptune)," "Aphrodite
(Venus)" and "Hades (Pluto)."
Bill Chase does some fine trumpet work on
"Cronus" and "Poseidon" and Jerry Van Blair's
fiuegelhorn solos on "Aphrodite" are beautiful and
contenting.
Shinn's vocals on this side are more than
satisfying; whether they be soft or rowdy. On
"Hades," Shinn's gruff voice and laughter personifies
lecherous evil.
On the oth r sde of the record ere severs! songs
which are standouts.
Shmn and company rip into Steven Foster's
"Swanee River" until it overflows its banks. And on
"Night," trumpeter Ted Piercefield takes the mike
and is downright exciting.
But probably, the finest cut of the whole album is
"Woman of the Dark." It starts off with only Bill
playing, then slowly builds and builds as the band
joins in, until the whole group is wailin' as hard and -high
as they can.
As already mentioned, there is a superb four-way
trumpet battle between Bill, VanBlair, Piercefield and
Alan Ware mid-way through the cut This song has
got to be a "must hit" single.
Ennea is just plain and simple. . . pure, honest
excitement
THE DAILY NEB RASKAN
FRIDAY, APRIL 14, 1972
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