Bochawa

by "ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
Published 03/21/2017 at 12:24

No Tags
STARS: 2

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Come back with me now to 1974 for this live performance of Bochawa by Chase, led by trumpeter Bill Chase, with Jay Sollenberger helping him out on the mic. Bill Chase was one of the preeminent lead players of his day, having worked with Maynard Ferguson, Stan Kenton and Woody Herman before going solo. He recorded three studio albums— Chase , Ennea , Pure Music —before his death in a plane crash in 1974 along with keyboardist Wally Yohn, drummer Walter Clark and guitarist John Emma. Somewhat ironically, the first song on Chase is titled Open Up Wide , and the last song on Pure Music is titled Close Up Tight .

The audio on this recording is not great, but there’s a raw energy and freedom to the performance that doesn’t come across in the highly produced studio album. Below is the studio version, about half as long, and certainly slicker.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Replies (4)

"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
03/21/2017 at 12:56, STARS: 1

Rad, Man!

But you need to warn people to get protective eyewear before viewing.

Also, needs more trombone.

"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
03/21/2017 at 13:07, STARS: 2

Nah, the whole point of Chase was a bitchin jazz/rock/funk/fusion rhythm section with four trumpets instead of four saxes (or anything else for that matter). Trumpet players tend to geek out on trumpet, and Chase is perhaps the god of all lead trumpet players. Maynard was one of the first, but Bill Chase signaled a new breed and a new sound, definitely a product of the 70s (another reason I dig it; some of his tunes would be at home in a 1972 TV cop show). The first and third albums are rather commercial, but the second is much more experimental. The B side is all one concept based on the Greco-Roman gods. I believe there is a very good chance that marijuana was involved in its conception.

"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
03/21/2017 at 13:29, STARS: 1

I wouldn’t doubt it. Just watching makes me think I’d need to bring a dime bag to the performance.

You know I was just poking you about trombone. ;)

So, do you get a chance to play much jazz?

"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
03/21/2017 at 13:36, STARS: 0

I can hold my own in a big band section (3rd or 4th), but I don’t play lead or jazz. I wish I could, though. Both of those disciplines require every bit as much training as playing in an orchestra, and I never pursued it. I also can’t really play by ear. I need notes, not changes. I once taught a blind HS student who had perfect pitch. He could play anything he heard, and played in the band by memorizing recordings of his part. He was even in the marching band (start here, walk x paces, turn and play). He ended up studying jazz at Berklee. Hell of a player.