Chase / Ennea / Pure Music

Great band, great music, five stars to Chase. But since this is a remastered version, I going to rate it on that basis. OK, bottom line offered first: if you don't already own the 1996/97 CDs, buy this version, and NOW, before it is no longer available. But if you already own them, don't spend the money on this set for the remastering alone. However, if you value and read CD booklets, the one in this set is very good indeed, with 28 pages of real content, not just photos.I already owned all three Chase albums on CD, both from One Way Records / Sony Music Special Products; A28726 and A2660 from 1996 and 1997. All the music is there to enjoy, but as with the originals on vinyl the mix and mastering is not that good, even for the '70's. So my hope was that this remaster would be something special, but it's not. In brief, it does not appear to be a re-mix, and the remastering does not go very far to make the needed improvements.I listened carefully for any improvements, but when nothing was obviously better, I got out the Sony CD's and compared carefully, but with the same results. Where the bass guitar was nearly non-existent in the original, it still is. Where the horns were shrill and painful, they still are. There is one obvious difference: many tracks are preceded by magnetic tape print-through (pre-echo).I ripped one track from all three albums from both this 2008 and the 1996/97 sets and compared the waveforms. They told me pretty much what my ears had already, that levels and mix are exactly the same, at the very least on the three selections I compared. But there ARE differences, just not significant to me anyway. In one selection the remaster actually had lower peak levels. Two of the selections appeared to be identical, but the third showed one of the things I had hoped for: improved high frequencies. There was clearly more HF content, but not enough for my ears to hear on my system.OK, when it comes to HF, it is possible that there wasn't anything on some of the tape masters to boost, that's what mag tape loses first over time. And I don't want any 'manufactured' HF content either. So I'll give this remaster that much benefit of the doubt. But even without a remix, it should have been possible to boost the bass in some cuts and tame the mid-HF shrillness a little; I've done both myself without impacting artistic intent. And before you comment, I agree that brass should "bite', especially screech trumpet. But it does not need to be shrill enough to hurt.

I discovered Bill Chase in high school, and was beyond thrilled when I found a CD double album of Ennea/Pure Music in my local music shop…even back then CDs of Chase were hard to find. Even with pampering, over the years my original CD was developing skipping problems and reaching the end of its’ life. Then I found this!!Quality of sound is great, and the same quality mastering as what I’ve heard previously. Also very nice that now I have all 3 released albums on a single CD. So glad somebody cared enough to re-release this iconic group, some of the best rock/jazz fusion out there and some of the BEST lead/altissimo trumpet playing I’ve ever heard recorded or live!! Time to go listen to Woman of the Dark again….

When I was a teenager in the 70's, CHASE came out of nowhere with 2 huge #1 hits "Get it On" and "Handbags And Gladrags." It was new and exciting then -- and it's still exciting today. (In fact, the only thing that might date this music is the occasional use of the then ever so popular 'Wha-Wha' guitar sound.) The band's trademark 4 horn trumpet section (plus Bill Chase making it 5 trumpets) playing high-energy cascading riffs, will send chills and maybe even goose bumps. This is a very tight group. My understanding is that the bands founder and leader Bill Chase, required separate section rehearsals and frequent and well-structured practice sessions. The result rings clear in some of the best music of its kind. Truly ahead of its time.Sadly, Bill Chase and other band members perished in a small plane crash on their way to a gig in 74.Their music lives on in these CD's and believe me when I say that there is something in this music for everyone. Excellent keyboards featuring some smokin Hammond B3 passages, strong vocals and tasty & tight bass runs -- it's all there and rest assured, this music is not just for trumpet fans. In fact, Bill Chase went out of his way to ensure that they were not labeled strictly a "trumpet band." You will like the instrumentation mix from these superb musicians. This is benchmark music and if you are a jazz fan or a trumpeter, you need these Chase recordings in your collection.

I first heard these albums back in 1979. I loved them then. Popped into my head a few weeks ago and I looked it up and ordered it. I am even more impressed now. The trumpet section is unbelievable. The vocalists are flawless. Read the liner notes. It will make you appreciate the music even more. I've seen Woody Herman's Thundering Herd and Maynard Ferguson, so to think that Bill Chase played with them is a resounding recommendation. And then you listen to him play. OMG!

This is great music: great writing, great arranging, great playing. The lyrics are sometimes, how shall I say, dated, but hey it was the 70s. Chase has a unique powerful sound which sets it apart from other rock-jazz bands. This is a must have.The only negative is the sound of the first album. I had read people's concerns about it before buying and was hoping it wouldn't be so noticeable. Unfortunately, it's very noticeable especially with the drums often lost in the mix (in "Get It On", for example). If this were a CD release of only the first album, I'd return it. I prefer it on cassette. However, the second and third albums sound much better, and for this price it's a great deal if only for those two. And if you're not familiar with this music or don't already own the first album in another form, it's an incredible deal!Suggestion to the producers/label: if the masters of "Chase" are really lost, as someone mentioned, consider releasing a high-quality CD transfer from vinyl. It'd be better than this, I'd buy it, and I bet a lot of other people would too. Also, I recall "Get It On" was included in at least one hits-of-the-seventies-type compilation. I don't have it, but I assume it's a better-quality edition. That could be another source.In any case, it's great that this music is back in print!

望んでいた物でとても嬉しい。

Bought to replace vinyl copies. Instrumentally strong and well recorded but nearly every track is marred by excessive, strident vocals delivering some truly awful lyrics. Good value though.

Being the son of a professional trumpet player I was ALWAYS surrounded by great music and musicians. I first heard this albums on vinyl and then on cassette. The remaster job has been done very well but could be better. Now the important bit.... These albums are AMAZING!! What's not to love about them? Four ridiculously great trumpet players and one of the funkiest rhythm sections ever!! Just buy it. You will not be disappointed!!

I can confirm that this is encoded for "SQ Quadraphonic". Please see the attached image of the first 30 seconds of the track "Open Up Wide" as the sound of the trumpets fly around the room.

1970年に結成されアルバム「追跡」で大好評を博しましたが、1974年に不慮の飛行機事故でリーダーを含む4人のメンバーが亡くなり、惜しくも消滅してしまいました。シカゴやブラッド・スウェット&ティアーズに続くブラス・ロックの旗手と期待されましたが、かなりジャズの要素が強く3rdアルバムの「PURE MUSIC」に収録されている曲などはクロスオーバーのナンバーと言っても違和感が無いほどです。特にトランペット4菅のみのブラス・セクション奏者がそれぞれが相当な腕の持ち主であり、誰がソロを取ってもジャズ・トランペッターに引けを取らない演奏を披露できる点が凄い。ただ売れすぎて超多忙な状態になり、2ndアルバム収録中に家族との時間を大切にしたいとメンバーが次々と離脱する事態となったようです。そのため第1期メンバーは2ndアルバムの途中まで、第2期メンバーで再出発しましたが1972年に一旦解散しました。その後2年を経て1974年にメンバーを一新し第3期メンバーで収録されたのが3rdアルバム。でもそのリリース直後に事故に見舞われた訳です。1970年代と言えばジャズシーンで様々な模索が行われていた時期で、帝王マイルス・デイビスでさえジャズとロックのクロスオーバー色を強くしたアルバムを出しています。ですからチェイスが消滅していなければ、ロックの側からジャズに接近したクロスオーバー・アルバムがもっとリリースされたはずで、ジャズも聴く私としては本当に残念に思います。さて本CDはチェイスがリリースした3枚（たったの！）を2CDに納めたお得盤。でも1stと2ndアルバムがCD1に収録されており、CD2は3rdアルバムのみ収録と言う珍しい構成になっています。現在適当な価格で3枚分を入手できるのはこれだけなので、3枚全て欲しい方は廃盤になる前にお求めになった方が宜しいかと存じます。ただし音質は最近はやりの高音質CDに比べるとやや劣ります。悪い音ではないものの、音場が狭く感じられることと、音の伸びがイマイチ。なので★4つ。でも小口径のスピーカーではその差は分かりません。ハイエンドのオーディオシステムを持っている方は、シングルアルバムとしてリリースされている中から1stアルバムの「追跡」だけを購入すれば良いかと思います。その際は2chマスターテープからマスタリングされたCDをお選び下さい。1stアルバムが日本で発売された時は4chマスターテープが使用されており、それをミックスダウンしたため処理工程が一つ多く、このことが音質を損ねています。