Album Notes

Carol Chase is a classically trained musician. Born and raised on a farm in rural Nebraska, Carol began picking out tunes on the piano at age 3 that she remembered hearing in church or on the radio. She began piano lessons at age 4 and continued them through college. Prior to college she also began her study of the organ and accordion. She had numerous teachers but at age 11 she still could not read music. This is what "perfect pitch" and "playing by ear" can result in when teachers do not recognize these innate qualities. Fewer than 1 in 10,000 persons in Western countries are born with perfect pitch, according to some estimates. She later found a teacher who also had perfect pitch and knew how to teach such students in spite of the "well-developed ear".

She received the Bachelor of Music in Church Music Degree with a major in organ and a minor in piano from Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lincoln, NE in 1966. She received the Master of Music Degree in Organ Performance from the University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY in 1975. She also attended Creighton University, Omaha, NE, The University of Nebraska at Omaha, The University of Utah at Salt Lake City, George Peabody College for Teachers, Nashville, TN, and The University of Tennessee at Knoxville.

These are vintage recordings of concerts captured live in 1966 and 1973 on reel-to-reel mono tapes--a far cry from the hi-tech recording capabilities of today. Stored by Carol in boxes in the garage and all but forgotten about for over 40 years, they were recently rediscovered, transferred to disc and enhanced in stereo in 2009. The tapes have suffered much degradation through the years and it is a miracle they are still intact. The surf-like background noise, audible at various parts, is a testament to the age of the recordings. The live audience present in the concert hall during the recordings is also occasionally audible. However, Carol's skillful playing of such great pieces on two of the most beautiful organs in the United States makes these recordings a treasured find and timeless relic for her-- personally and professionally. Indeed, they create a musical compilation that listeners and fans of Carol will cherish and value.

Tracks 1-5 were recorded live on the Aeolian-Skinner three-manual organ, 49 ranks, at Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lincoln, NE in 1966 in partial fulfillment of the Bachelor of Music in Church Music Degree.

Tracks 6-12 were recorded live on the Casavant three-manual organ, containing 2536 pipes in 47 ranks, at Transylvania University, Lexington, KY in 1973 where Carol was on the faculty as Instructor of Applied Organ and Piano.

Carol resides in South Carolina and works full-time in finance and music. For the past 12 years she has been on the music staff at St. Matthew Catholic Church in Charlotte, NC, one of the largest church congregations in the country. She teaches private lessons, plays for private parties, plays organ and piano frequently in churches in Atlanta, GA and other cities in the South, and accepts various performing engagements across the country.

Listeners may also enjoy Carol's first CD creation, "Christmas with Carol Chase" which features piano improvisations also recorded live. Her individualistic style produces a unique blend of sophisticated yet down-to-earth sounds that appeal to people with varied musical tastes. Her seemingly simple improvisations are spiced with classical techniques. Carol and her piano music embody the feel of country and city--casual and elegant.