I waited a long time for this. Throughout my life Pure Music has remained my top favorite album. I never expected to hear it in such glory!
44 years ago last June I was an almost-graduated senior at Gull Lake High School, a stone's throw from Kalamazoo. When I heard about the upcoming Chase show at Mr. T-Bone, it was a must-see! I grabbed three fellow trumpeters, drove into town early, and grabbed the front table.
Chase's mic was 4 feet away!
Bill's trumpet raised high in the air, the show began with "Open Up Wide". What a pure sound! They played songs from all three albums (Chase, Ennea, Pure Music), plus some other selections including a four-trumpet rendition of MacArthur Park, which blew our socks off! Bill told us it was going to be showcased on album #4, scheduled for release later in 1974. During the break Bill took time to talk with us about his playing style, and gave some tips on trumpet mouthpiece selection.
Tragedy stuck 2 months later when Bill and three band members were killed in a plane crash. I was devastated and sought comfort from my ex-girlfriend. She was compassionate.
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On to this quad release from DV:
Pure Music is aptly named. Each of Chase's three albums showed evolutionary growth. By the time Pure Music was released Chase was at a musically creative peak. 4-trumpet composition had reached a level of sophistication not before heard. The recording quality is excellent and the quad mix is discrete and integrates well with the musical flow.
Chase (S/T) was my favorite album until Ennea arrived. The sound quality is a notch below Pure Music, and the quad mix is not as well integrated. That being said this SACD is heads and shoulders above any quad version I've heard before.
Overall this is clearly a 10 for me.