Hello ! I'm Chase, I am currently a sophomore studying Music Performance on Bass Trombone. I started playing trombone in 4th Grade, so when I was about 9. I've played around on other instruments off and on in the past but the ones I'm most proficient at are trombone and euphonium.
I was born and raised in Spartanburg SC, I graduated from Spartanburg High School. I live at home with my lovely dad and stepmom, and our cat Gary. When not at school, I'm usually either at work, or hanging out with the people I care most about.
Not surprising anyone that knows me one of my go to artists is Faye Webster. I was lucky enough to see her live in Fall of 2023 and it was a WONDERFUL experience. The venue was pretty small but I definitely wasn't complaining about it. I try to always be on the hunt for new music, but if I can't find anything that I want to listen to, or if everything that I put on starts to annoy me I'll usually just put on Faye and press shuffle.
Faye Webster released an album in March of last year, and this is one of my favorite songs from her newest album
Its just nice chill pretty music I love it !
Its just nice chill pretty music I love it !
2. Something deeply important to me:
I am a jazz guy. It runs through my blood, keeps my heart beating fast. I feel a connection to jazz because of the freedom it has. Jazz is like going through life, there's so many ways to approach a tune, just like there are so many ways to approach anything in life. It speaks to my soul, and my soul is able to speak through it. This is a tune called "Struggle Gives You Strength". I like this song a lot because its another parallel to life. It builds a lot of tension and releases it beautifully. College has been full of trials and tribulations, each semester has progressively gotten more mentally draining, but then sometimes I remember that that's just the way things go sometimes, and I'll come out of it all better. This song is a reminder that when everything is boiling over and I'm going crazy that it'll be alright eventually, I just gotta keep playing. This song is RAW, both the bandleader Sean Jones and the sax soloist Cole Palensky let their emotions ring through their horns, leaving nothing left. It is simply incredible.
3. Music I dont connect with:
I have specifically never been able to enjoy classical soprano music. I don't understand why, I understand how difficult it is and how impressive being really good is, but I really don't enjoy much of any part of listening to it. Even my example, I recognize that it's a great song, but I don't really like listening to it.
Back in the 80s the Japanese did some crazy shit. After having the City Pop phase, Jazz Fusion got REALLY popular. Japanese Jazz Fusion is one of my all time favorite genres, it's got tons of great bands, and really interesting music, here is a live recording of the band Casiopea's "Space Road".
Hi Chase! You have some really interesting clips! On thing I really connected with was the way Sean Jones talked about music. At the end of the talking segment, he states "the skill means nothing without the soul behind it." I have sat through performances other places where someone plays what is written to be a beautiful piece, but puts no soul into it. There is a huge emptiness. I can't imagine how inspiring it was for those young guys to get to listen to him talk about having strength through struggle and also perform with such passion. I can totally see why you love this! I was pretty much in awe the entire video with the artistry and the intensity of the playing. Thanks for sharing this!
ReplyDeleteI really, really enjoyed the Casiopeia song. I am pretty sure I have heard some songs by them before, maybe by your recommendation. The keyboard solo was particularly crazy and got me pumped up listening to it. Fay Webster also goes hard and so do the saxophone and trumpet solos!
DeleteI really enjoyed your section about how "Struggle gives you strength" connects with you. I agree how college has been a bunch of trials and how it's just so draining sometimes. Have that one piece you can connect with during hard times is so amazing. Putting all of your issues with life into your craft has been one of the best ways I've found to help get over hard times. Also love the bonus, who can't love some good ole 80s jazz.
ReplyDeletehey chase! can i just say how much i really appreciate your love for jazz?!?! i rarely ever see anyone love jazz and be so deep into the genre :) also i really liked the jazz selection you shared! lastly not too much on us classical sopranos!!! i'm only half kidding there, i can actually agree with you to some degree. there are many operatic pieces that i don't care for; no matter how elaborate. and that says a lot, since that is literally my primary instrument. but thank you so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHey Chase, I really liked your blog, and was very interesting to see what type of music you dislike. I could see why people do not like the high pitch sopranos, but I'm alright with it. I really do like Faye Webster, and hope to add her to my playlist as well. What I really enjoyed about your blog was learning about Japanese Jazz, that part was so cool.
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