:: Lobby & Pianobar entertainers ::

FRANK CHASE

FRANK CHASE - pianobar entertainer

Frank Chase, born the second of February 1954, began playing in bars at age 15 in the north eastern U.S.A. At age 18, he moved to Columbus, Georgia to Piano Technical school for six months. While there, he studied under Chris Christian, a local Jazz & Blues pianist who, besides his playing skills, could drink a bottle of vodka a night. After leaving Georgia, Frank arrived in New Orleans where he studied under Snookum Kussel, a great Bourbon st Jazz & Boogie Woogie player.

He also started playing at a small blues bar in the French Quarter named Bonaparte,s Retreat. The wage at the time was 10 cents for every drink sold plus tips and free beer. After that stunt in New Orleans, Frank began touring and playing in the early 70's with a host of mostly bad rock bands. It was in 1974 that Frank decided to play only solo piano. He began in Pennsylvania, playing six nights a week at a local piano bar where he stayed for three years.

After a summer performing in the Hamptons on Long Island, Frank found work at a new piano bar that had opened at the ski area of Killington, Vermont. This new bar, The Mountain Inn, would be Frank's home base for the next nine ski seasons, while off-season he would return to New Orleans for Mardi Gras and Jazz Festival. Summers were spent performing at various resort areas in New England such as Nantucket, Marthas Vineyard, Lake Winnepesaukee, and Cape Cod.

In the early 90's, Frank started playing in Europe, where he has performed in Norway, Holland, Ireland, Switzterland, Germany, and Scotland. At Maxim's Piano Bar in Amsterdam, Frank has been a regular favourite. ( Maxim,s is considered to be the hardest piano bar in Europe to perform in, with the job entailing five hours a night with no breaks for five days a week.)

Currently, Frank has been working at a new piano bar in Vail, Colorado called the Club Chelsea, where he has been asked to return for the 1997-98 ski season. He also returns to Martha's Vineyard for the summer seasons where performs with Jazz drummer Don "Big Daddy" Gray at the Wharf in Edgartown, Mass. Frank's repertoire is extensive and wide ranging. He plays jazz, blues, boogie woogie, New Orleans style, and a great array of popular music.

He also has a variety of vocal styles, from Ray Charles to Billy Joel. He also has a unique sense of humor.