Bill Chase (born William Edward Chiaiese) (October 20, 1934 - August 9, 1974) was an American trumpet player and leader of a jazz-rock fusion band that bore his name. He was born William Edward Chiaiese in Boston, Massachusetts, but his family changed their name to Chase, realizing Chiaiese was difficult to pronounce. October 20 is the 293rd day of the year (294th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 72 days remaining. ... 1934 (MCMXXXIV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... August 9 is the 221st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (222nd in leap years), with 144 days remaining. ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) is a common year starting on Tuesday (click on link for calendar). ... The trumpet is the highest brass instrument in register, above the horn, trombone, euphonium, and tuba. ... Jazz fusion (sometimes referred to simply as fusion) is a musical genre that loosely encompasses the merging of jazz with other styles, particularly rock, funk, R&B, and world music. ... Nickname: City on a Hill, Beantown, The Hub (of the Solar System), Athens of America Motto: {{{motto}}} Official website: www. ...

Chase built his reputation with Maynard Ferguson and Stan Kenton, and during the 1960s he played lead trumpet in Woody Herman's Thundering Herd. Recordings of the Herman band from that time period, including Woody's Winners, Live in Antibes, Encore, 1963, My Kind of Broadway, Blue Flame, Live in Seattle, Somewhere, Live at Newport 1966, Heavy Exposure, Woody Herman & the Fourth Herd, and Jazz Hoot are considered some of the most exciting in the Herman discography. The band also filmed several television appearances for the program Jazz Casual. One of Chase's original charts from this period, Camel Walk, was published in Downbeat magazine. Maynard Ferguson (born May 4, 1928 in Montreal, Canada) is a jazz trumpet player and bandleader. ... Stanley Newcomb Kenton (December 15, 1911 - August 25, 1979), was an American jazz pianist, and bandleader known for his innovations in jazz music. ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from 1960 to 1969, inclusive. ... Woodrow Charles Herman (May 16, 1913–October 29, 1987), better known as Woody Herman, was an American jazz clarinetist, alto and soprano saxophonist, singer, and Big band leader. ...

In 1970 he started his own band, known as Chase, which released its eponymous debut album in early 1971. Bill Chase was joined by Ted Piercefield, Alan Ware, and Jerry Van Blair, three veteran jazz trumpeters who were also adept at vocals and arranging. They were backed up by a rhythm section consisting of Phil Porter on keyboards, Angel South on guitar, Dennis Johnson on bass, and Jay Burrid on percussion. Rounding out the group was Terry Richards, who was featured as lead vocalist on the first album. The album contains Chase's best-known song, "Get It On," which was released as a single and spent thirteen weeks on the charts starting in May of 1971. It features what Jim Szantor of Downbeat magazine called "the hallmark of the Chase brass - complex cascading lines; a literal waterfall of trumpet timbre and technique." 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) is a common year starting on Friday (click for link to calendar). ...

Late in 1971, Chase released their second album, Ennea. The original lineup was retained, except for Gary Smith on drums, and G. G. Shinn replacing Terry Richards on lead vocal. Whereas the first Chase album sold nearly 400,000 copies, Ennea was not as well received by the public. A possible reason for this may have been the shift of focus away from the trumpet section. As Bill Chase put it in a Downbeat interview, "I don't want people to be heavily conscious of a trumpet section. They should just hear good things, but not be clobbered over the head with brass." A single, "So Many People," received some radio play, but the side-two-filling "Ennea" suite, with its tightly-chorded jazz arrangements and lyrics based on Greek mythology, was less radio-friendly. 1971 (MCMLXXI) is a common year starting on Friday (click for link to calendar). ...

Following an extended hiatus, Chase reemerged early in 1974 with the release of Pure Music, their third album. With an entirely new lineup, but keeping the four-trumpet section headed by Bill Chase, the group moved further from the rock idiom, placing their focus more heavily on jazz. Variety magazine said that Pure Music was "probably Chase's most commercial effort, and their brand of jazz could have a commercial impact." The songs were written by Jim Peterik of the Ides of March, who also sings on the two songs on the album with lyrics, backing up singer and bassist Dartanyan Brown. 1974 (MCMLXXIV) is a common year starting on Tuesday (click on link for calendar). ... Jim Peterik (born 1951) is an American musician. ... Ides of March is an American rock band. ...

On August 9, 1974, while on tour promoting the Pure Music album, Bill Chase died in a plane crash in Jackson, Minnesota. Also killed along with the pilot were Wally Yohn, keyboardist, Walter Clark, drummer, and John Emma, guitarist. With the death of Bill Chase came the death of the group Chase. (Ironically, as the first song on Chase is called "Open Up Wide," the last song on Pure Music is called "Close Up Tight.") August 9 is the 221st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (222nd in leap years), with 144 days remaining. ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) is a common year starting on Tuesday (click on link for calendar). ... Citing the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, an aviation accident is defined as an occurrence associated with the operation of an aircraft which takes place between the time any person boards the aircraft with the intention of flight and all such persons have disembarked, and in which any person... Jackson is a city located in Jackson County, Minnesota. ... Walter Ernest Clark (died March 26, 1987) was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. ...

References

• Szantor, Jim, Downbeat magazine, articles of February 4, 1971, and February 3, 1972.
• "New Acts" column, Variety magazine, March 13, 1974.
• "Obituaries" column, Billboard magazine, August 31, 1974.