ENNEA

They don't look like Greek gods!

Chase's second album was released in 1972, the title "Ennea" being the Greek word for nine, the number of members in the band. The recording of the album was not without its problems, with both the lead singer and the drummer being replaced along the way. After their trumpet dominated debut album, "Ennea" saw band leader Bill Chase attempting to dilute the emphasis on that instrument.

The brief single taken from the album "So many people" was included on the lavish CBS (Columbia) sampler "The music people". As such, it served for many people in the UK, including myself, as an introduction to Chase. The sound is of a BLOOD SWEAT AND TEARS like brass filled rock song. Although it is very short, the track builds from a soft beginning to a wonderful cacophony of screaming brass, with powerful vocals (this was the only track on the album to feature Terry Richards on lead vocals) and a superb melody. An epic in under three minutes.

The album opens though with a bizarre jazz rock take on the old standard "Swanee river" with wailing trumpets and harsh rock vocal by GG Shin (the principal singer on the album). Any resemblance between this version and the downbeat original is fleeting indeed! "Night" sees the third lead vocalist in as many tracks, with trumpet player Ted Piercefield's David Clayton-Thomas excellent like voice raising the question "why did he not sing more"?

The remaining tracks on side one borrow heavily from the style of BS&T and CHICAGO, Bill Chase's trumpet never being far from centre stage. The strong melodies are enhanced by the superb musicianship on display, including some fine organ work by Phil Porter on "I can feel it".

The second side of the album is dedicated entirely to a side long suite whose theme is the Greek Gods and their associated planets. The first section "Cronus" has some fine lead guitar work by Angel South, the trumpet quartet pushing Shin's vocals to ever higher levels. Shin's vocal style is actually quite similar to that of ARTHUR BROWN, a point brought home through his excited performance on "Zeus". The gentler "Aphrodite", in two parts, offers a welcome lightening of the pace and sound, while acting as a counterpoint to the frantic closer "Hades".

"Ennea" is sadly a largely forgotten album by a largely forgotten band. Hopefully, Chase's addition to ProgArchives will help to redress that injustice, at least to some extent.

The sleeve has a picture of the nine band members lined up as a fine example of what not to do with facial hair. If that was not bad enough, we get a mirror image of the same picture on the reverse!

The best reference for any brass band!

When I heard for the first time (I think it was in 1981) "Woman of the Dark", I was so impressed with how rockin' the music is and how the brass rock music flows wonderfully from start to end. This song which made me explore further on the music of Chase. I found the self titled album and later I found "Pure Music".

The beauty of Chase music is on its composition, combining song writing, arrangement and structure. On song writing, Bill Chase focused on how brass (read: trumpets) instruments are being used to the fullest as music fills, solo and in fact rhythm section in some segments. Count the number of trumpet players in this album! There are four gentlemen: Bill Chase / Lead Trumpet, Ted Piercefield / Trumpet, vocals (Lead vocal on "Night"), Alan Ware / Trumpet, Jerry Blair / Trumpet. You can imagine how "noisy" the music with four trumpets which in most of the time play high register notes.On arrangement, the band focused the music delivery which revolves around a combination of jazz and classic rock. On structure, it's basically quite straightforward rock music but there are some curved lines as well - in some segments.

The best of best tracks this album has is "Woman of The Dark". It starts wonderfully with a blow of single trumpet solo in very high register notes. I believe Billl Chase played this part. It is then followed with cymbals and bass guitar. The music blasts off wonderfully when all trumpets blow high register notes and the vocal line in high register notes as well enters the music. The music moves in a rockin' mode where in some segments the four trumpets demonstrate their blows wonderfully. Bass guitar is also an interesting instrument to observe as the contribution is significant. The interlude comprises the demonstration of trumpet solo in intertwined fashion. It's really cool. Next is an epic "Ennea" which comprises four parts organized in each individual track: a) Cronus (Saturn) 4:46, b) Zeus (Jupiter) 4:36 c) Poseidon (Neptune) 2:27, d) Aphrodite Part I (Venus) 2:02, e) Aphrodite Part II (Venus) 3:36, f) Hades (Pluto) 3:34. The epic is also a wonderful one. My top one is the opening sequel "Cronus". Why I love this track so much? I think is more on the time signature and the timing when guitar solo takes its part - it's so precise and wonderfully composed! Oh man .. I cannot describe precisely in writing but for sure I can tell you exactly where the parts with great entrance. For example I can tell you the guitar entrance at minute 0:47 is really great! That's one example only. The music interlude featuring guitar solo is also stunning - with dynamic bass and trumpet fills. "Zeus" is also great especially when it's enjoyed seamlessly from previous track. The jazz elements sound much more clear in this track.

I tend to give this album a five star rating because of its wonderful composition and performance. Any band with brass instrument in jazz rock style must compare themselves with this album. The brass arrangement is really wonderful. 4.75 stars!!!! Keep on proggin' ..!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW

After scoring a minor hit with the debut album Chase followed it up with a much more commercially oriented release titled Ennea. There was a definite change of direction in comparison to the Chicago-sounding debut album mainly notable in the vocal department where G.G. Shinn has taken the lead vocals on all but two songs. This to me is a bit of a problem since I'm really not a fan of generic Jazz/Funk sounding vocalists that might be considered good for the genre but I lack a real personality. Also there aren't any instrumental compositions meaning that, more often than not, Shinn and the four trumpeters try to occupy the same space creating some really awkward moments like on I Can Feel It.

Still it's not all that bad and album's first side features quite a few excellent moments like the funky album opener Swanee River, the ballad It Won't Be Long and especially another magnificent interpretation of a cover depicted on So Many People. The remaining three songs are a bit more generic for my tastes although Woman Of The Dark manages to pull off a nice middle section, leading to another chorus repeat, that makes it a bit more interesting.

The album's side two is comprised of a suite titled Ennea, which is the Greek word for nine (ennéa) probably referring to the nine band members. The suite depicts the Greek mythology over the course of the six tracks, starting with Cronus (Saturn), and it's the album's definite highlight in terms of concept and delivery. The tracks flow into each other and create a groove that just didn't exist on the album's earlier tracks and the material definitely justifies being considered progressive. My personal favorites are the two Aphrodite sections that rely a lot more on the atmosphere than the standard Jazz sound.

Even though this album comes close to the level of excellence worthy to be discovered by a lot more people I will have to go for the good, but non-essential rating because I enjoy the other two Chase albums just a bit more that this one. Still, if you've heard and enjoy the debut album and/or Pure Music then this album is a great continuation of the Chase legacy well worth your time.

***** star songs: So Many People (2:44) Aphrodite Part I (Venus) (1:59)

**** star songs: Swanee River (3:12) It Won't Be Long (3:08) Woman Of The Dark (6:01) Cronus (Saturn) (4:48) Zeus (Jupiter) (4:36) Poseidon (Neptune) (2:34) Aphrodite Part II (Venus) (3:37) Hades (Pluto) (3:38)

*** star songs: Night (2:42) I Can Feel It (2:55)