Chase Baird is a dynamic saxophonist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist whose musical journey began on March 18, 1988, in Seattle, Washington. Growing up in a musically inclined family, where his father was a trumpet player, Chase was immersed in a rich environment of creative musicianship from an early age.
In 1996, Chase relocated to Salt Lake City at the tender age of eight. It was there he began playing the saxophone at age ten, nurturing a passion that would define his career. His academic pursuits saw him attend California State University Long Beach, where he studied music and psychology on a KJZZ scholarship. Chase's dedication culminated in his graduation from The Juilliard School in 2014 with a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Studies.
Chase was discovered by saxophonist Michael Brecker in 2003, who served as a mentor and profound influence in his musical development. He received recognition as the outstanding student tenor sax player at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival in 2002, joined the Monterey Jazz Festival All-Star High School Big Band at 16, and was awarded the Clifford Brown/Stan Getz Fellowship by the National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts.
His career took a definitive turn with the release of his debut album "Crosscurrent" in 2010. This was followed by "A Life Between" in August 2019, a record featuring collaborators such as Brad Mehldau, Antonio Sánchez, Nir Felder, and Dan Chmielinski. In July 2020, Chase teamed up with Steve Lyman on the album "Pulsar."
Chase has been an integral part of Antonio Sánchez's band Migration from 2017 to 2020 and co-led the band Venture, releasing "Life Cycle" on Ropeadope Records in 2018. He also performed at a celebrated Jazz at Lincoln Center concert honoring Michael Brecker in 2017.
Chase Baird is recognized for his style that blends the experimental elements of rock with classical romanticism and hard-bop influences. He has developed a unique theoretical approach to chromatic improvisation, termed "Harmonic Grounding," and is influenced by both East Coast and West Coast jazz styles.
Chase's collaborations span a diverse array of artists, including Chaka Khan, Bill Champlin, Matthew Morrison, Jakob Dylan, Chris Botti, Mike Stern, and Victor Wooten. He has graced venues such as the Blue Note in New York and the Monterey Jazz Festival stage. As a versatile musician, Chase is also an active member of the all-synthesizer band Circuit Kisser.
While primarily a saxophonist, Chase Baird's musicianship encompasses the Electronic Wind Instrument (EWI), as well as acoustic and electric guitars, showcasing his multifaceted talent.
Currently based in Austin, Texas, Chase Baird continues to leave his mark on the music world through dynamic performances, recordings, and collaborations with various artists and bands. His innovative blend of styles continues to push the boundaries of contemporary jazz.
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