Eric Miyashiro

Eric Miyashiro was born in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1963. In his senior year in High School he was selected to be in the McDonalds All American High School Band. Soon after that Eric played lead trumpet with Buddy Rich. After studying at Berklee College of Music in Boston, he went on to play lead trumpet in such bands as Woody Herman, Maynard Ferguson, Mel Lewis and Ray Charles. In 1990 Eric moved to Tokyo, Japan, where he lives today. As a Yamaha Performing Artist, he stays busy traveling around the world as a studio musician, clinician, soloist and bandleader. Mr. Miyashiro has two bands: EM Big Band and Z Force. He has recorded four solo CD’s, "Kick Up" (2000), "City of Brass" (2003), "Times Square" (2006), and "Pleides", a tribute to Maynard Ferguson (2008), all available at www.Seeleymusic.com.

Eric's Website: www.bluebirdland.com/em/index.html

Dartanyan Brown

Dartanyan Brown was born into a musical family where his father and mother both studied and performed music from religious to conservatory to jazz. Dartanyan now performs with his son, Jaimeo, a drummer and his vocalist daughter Marisha whenever they come home from their adopted home in the New York City area. Dartanyan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and News Editorial Journalism (1975) from Drake University. In addition to his performing career, Dartanyan has provided guidance to hundreds of educators on how to integrate Jazz studies and music technology into the K-12 educational sphere. He is currently part of the music faculty at the Marin Academy in the San Francisco area.

Dartanyan's Website: www.dartanyan.com

Jay Burrid

Jay is a full-time musician who began playing drums in the New Jersey/New York area and was later asked by a horn player in Las Vegas to join a show band there. He moved to LV, played shows there for four years, and became friends with Bill Chase. During that time, they discussed starting a horn band. CHASE was formed there and later was based in Chicago where the first album was recorded. Jay toured with CHASE nationally for approximately two years. Jay left the band, (fried!) and moved to Los Angeles, where he played and toured with a long list of film stars, entertainers, and music industry artists. He currently resides and plays in San Antonio.

Jay is endorsed with Drum Workshop drums, Zildjian cymbals, Vic Firth drumsticks, and Aquarian heads.

Dennis Johnson

Dennis Keith Johnson was the original bass player with CHASE and is now the bassist, vocalist and leader of the Dennis Keith Experience. (www.dkexp.com). He has recently taken the Dennis Keith Band to Maui, Jamaica, Paris and all through the Midwest to perform for major corporations. The band has toured extensively throughout the world.
In addition to his DKX leading, producing and arranging responsibilities, Dennis has performed and/or recorded with bands and artists such as: Survivor, Software, Dennis De Young , Jerry Butler, Jim Peterick Bruce Bolin, Cottownwood South, Larry Carlton, Paul Wetico, B.B. King, and Sweetening.
Writer and production credits include all Dennis Keith Experience acts, Cherryl Fonfara, Horace Monster, Amy Lowe, Software, and Survivor as well as many other commercial writing and production credits.

Dennis's Website: www.dkexp.com

Joe Morrissey

Joe Morrissey started playing trumpet at age 10. Joe attended Drake University in Des Moines majoring in music education. During this time he studied trumpet with Bob Weast. In 1973, Joe was asked to join the jazz-rock group, CHASE. During this time he recorded the album "CHASE Pure Music". He left CHASE in 1974. Joe then located to the Twin Cities where he began free lancing, recording, giving clinics and concerts and private trumpet lessons. During this time he toured with the Mel Lewis Orchestra. He became first trumpet and assistant conductor of the pit orchestra for the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre in the Twin Cities. He played in the orchestra for twenty four years and was Musical Director for the last twelve of those years. Joe currently plays in a 70's soul and R&B group called "Soul Tight Committee."

Jim Oatts

Since the CHASE days, Jim Oatts has been an active musician and educator. He has toured and/or recorded with Stan Kenton, Thad Jones/Mel Lewis, Machito, Wilson Pickett, Mike Vax Big Band, and many others. Currently he is an instrumental director for the Southeast Polk School District in the Des Moines area. Jim is an active clinician, soloist, and adjudicator throughout the Midwest.Jim has also been director of the Des Moines Big Band for almost twenty years. During that time they have been performing on Monday nights to a very loyal jazz following. Jim has produced five recordings and three shows on the Iowa Public Television featuring the DSMBB.

Jim's Website: www.desmoinesbigband.com

Ted Piercefield

Ted Piercefield attended Milikin University on a trumpet scholarship. After college, Ted moved to Miami where he worked in the house band at the Newport Hotel Resort. That band was discovered by a producer from Las Vegas. Ted moved to Las Vegas to play in a show with that band. The music for that show was written by Bill Chase. Shortly after meeting Bill, Ted was invited to play in Bill's new band, CHASE. While CHASE was being formed, Ted worked actively in Las Vegas
Presently, Ted lives in La Grange Kentucky where he is an independent contractor for new construction homes with the largest home builder in Kentucky.

Phil Porter

Boston- born keyboardist Phil Porter took piano lessons from age 6 to 12, and started playing professionally at age 15. Following a stint with trumpeter Howard McGhee, Phil worked with his own and other bands in the New England area and moved to Las Vegas in 1969.
In 1971, Phil joined CHASE and was featured soloist on their first two albums, including the hit single "Get It On".
After he left chase in 1972, Phil returned to Boston and started playing both as a soloist and with his own and other bands.
From 1987 to 2006 Phil has been in retail sales and marketing, most recently with the Clorox Company.
Since 2006 Phil has reinvented himself as "The Pianoman", playing multiple keyboards, bass pedals and singing. Phil creates the sound of a trio or big band and performs at clubs, weddings, corporate events and private parties in the New England area.

GG Shinn

In 1956, GG played with his first band, "The Flat Tops" in Franklin, La., his hometown.
In 1966, GG formed his band, "The Roller Coasters", and recorded two R & B albums. GG performed in Reno, Las Vegas and Miami during this time.
Later, GG moved to Los Angeles where he was hired to record an album with CHASE. He continued to gain wide recognition as he toured internationally with CHASE.
He has recorded numerous albums, the latest being You Can't Keep a Good Man Down and Merry Christmas from GG Shinn.
GG has owned and operated 4 successful nightclubs, in Lafayette, Lake Charles and Monroe. At present, GG and his wife, Sandra, are putting their energy into their club in Alexandria.

GG's Website: www.ggshinnclub.com

Gary Smith

A mainstay in the Chicago studios throughout the 70's, 80's, and early 90's, Gary recorded and performed with many diverse artists, including CHASE, B.B.King, Joe Williams, Vic Damone, Leslie West, Survivor, Essence, and Software. Gary was drummer for CHASE from late 1971 to 1973 and played on the "Ennea" album. He also played drums and co-wrote "Writing on the Wall" for the CHASE tribute album "Watch Closely Now." While with Survivor, Gary co-wrote the hit "Rockin" Into the Night," for 38 Special and co-wrote Survivor's first single, "Rebel Girl.". Modern Drummer gave recognition to the CHASE drummers, including Gary, Jay Burrid and Tom Gordon in the 2002 article "Jazz/Rock Pioneers." Gary now resides in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Gary's website: www.garysmithdrums.com

Jay Sollenberger

Jay Sollenberger began his musical training in McPherson, Kansas, graduating from high school in 1968. In 1973 he joined the jazz- rock group, CHASE, recording the album "Pure Music." After that Jay played lead trumpet with Stan Kenton, Woody Harman and Buddy Rich. Since 1980 he has made his home in Kansas City as a free-lance musician. His many activities include the Starlight Theater Orchestra, various Broadway shows, recording sessions, local rehearsal bands and brass ensembles. Jay has recorded CD's with The Spirit of Kansas City Orchestra, The Trilogy Big Band, The Kansas City Boulevard Big Band, The Rhythm Club Orchestra, The River City Jazz Band, The New Vintage Big Band and The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra. In addition to his work with these groups, Jay performs regularly with 3 Brass Quintets, The Brookside Brass, The Brass Knights, and The Missouri Brass Quintet.

Alan Ware

Alan was born in 1937 in Wichita, Kansas. In 1955 Alan joined the Army after which he enrolled at The Berklee School of Music in Boston. In 1969, he joined Bill Chase's new band, which was still in rehearsal. The band toured the Midwest extensively until the first album produced a hit in April of 1971. Alan left the band as a regular in 1973. Alan played gigs in Las Vegas until 1981 when he was elected Business Gent for the Musicians Union of Las Vegas, Local 369. He was elected secretary/treasurer two years later and held that office until 1991. Alan worked for a major car rental corporation in various departments until retirement in April of 2007.