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

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

Phil Porter

Boston-born pianist/organist Phil Porter started playing professionally at age 15, led his high school band and studied music education at Boston University. At age 19, Phil toured with trumpeter Howard McGhee and was featured at the Newport Jazz Festival. During this period, Phil recorded two albums on United Artists - one with Howard McGhee and his own album, with McGhee, Arthur Taylor, Kenny Burrell and Paul Chambers. After touring, Phil performed in the New England Area and moved to Las Vegas in 1969.
Phil performed at most of the major hotels and was featured with Xavier Cugat and Charo, Ray Anthony, the Kirby Stone IV, Country Star Lee Greenwood and with his own group at the Sahara and Thunderbird Hotels. Phil also played for the variety and animal acts at Circus Circus for over a year.
In 1971, Phil joined CHASE and was featured soloist on their first two albums, including the hit single "Get It On".
For family reasons, Phil left Chase in 1972, returned to Boston and started playing both as a soloist and with his own and other bands. Phil also played organ for the Celtics and Bruins at Boston Garden.
From 1987 to 2006 Phil was 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 performs at clubs, weddings, corporate events and private parties in the New England area.
Phil currently performs at a fabulous oceanside restaurant/lounge in Salisbury Beach, MA, called the "Seaglass" Thursday, Friday, Saturday nights and Sunday brunch.

Phil's Website under construction: www.philporterpianoman.com

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

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.