ABOUT US (SUMMARIZED)
ABOUT THE BAND: The Soul Chase Reggae and Funk (4 - 6 piece) Band offers a unique blend of well-known songs adapted to our groove-oriented vibe. Our songs are popular and danceable, with a reggae or funk twist. We appeal to diverse audiences of all ages. We can taylor Iour sets to cater to your clientele and the ganres they prefer. Influences include Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, The Expendables, Steel Pulse, Sublime, The Police, and Pepper on the reggae side, The Temptations, Bill Withers, Funkadelics, Neville Brothers, and Little Feat among others keep us funnky. The band has steadily grown a following from Wilmington to Salibury.
CONFIGURATIONS
4-piece : Female vocals, keyboards, drums, and bass
5-piece: Guitar or Sax are selected as our 5th piece.
The full 6-piece band consists of female vocals, keys, guitar, bass, drums, and sax.
Lavender Browne – Female Vocals – A young, local, singer-song-writer who performs with us in addition her solo projects. She brings an amazing voice and and style.
Dave Zipse – Keyboards – A life-long, professional musician and music teacher who covers jazz, funk, reggae, and classis rock
Joel Popelsky – Drums – An NYC drummer for 50+ yrs, studied under NYC’s top drummers, and played at top clubs like CBGB’s
Irv Rodrigues – Bass – 20+ years with DC area bands (Problem Child & Blind Date
Bruce Kevin - Guitar - Developed a style influenced by multiple genres, and been active in DE with Electric Smoke, Grey Fox, and The Soul Chase
Tad Thayer - Saxophone - He played lead tenor for the Bucknell Jazz and Rock Ensemble, since college he worked with several bands in NYC.
ALTERNATES: (We use a rotation of great players so we never have to miss a gig! Each brings their style which gives us a little variety, while maintaininng the Soul Chase Vibe)
Jason Rus - Guitar - Jason is a well as an Eastern Shores musician with bands such as Identity Crisis and several local bands.
Eden Cooney - Guitar - Eden is at 20 year old phenom from a family of local miusicians. He plays with the Fitzkee Brothers, and filles in with other local bands as needed. He's done a great job filling in for us too.
Billy Bilbo - Keys - Billy is based in Ocean City. He's played keys hosting open mics, and joined the Soul Chase 2 years ago.
Paul Weik - Drums - Pauli is best known as the original drummer for Lower Case Blues prior to The Soul Chase, and Gold Star,
Wayne Russell - Drums - Influenced by DC Go-Go, Reggae, Funk, Wayne brings The Soul Chase the perfect groove for our vibe
Dave Stack - Drums - A life-time professional touring musician from Baltimore was recently added to our rotation.
Rob Barbarita – Sax – UD music major, Beacon MS music director & teacher, sings, and plays guitar, bass, & sax
PLAYER BIO'S
Lavender Browne - Vocals & Percussion
Lavender Browne brings energy and emotion to all her performances. A Delaware native, singer-songwriter Lavender Browne uses her diverse musical background to immerse fans in a melodically-driven, multi-genre experience. Lavender has firmly established herself as a multi-media artist, with a flourishing music career. Lavender has lent her talent to bands such as Marissa Levy & The Lady Parts, The Repeat Offenders, and The Soul Chase. Lavender also composed and produced the theme song for the Dragons Drink Bourbon podcast.
David Zipse - Keyboards & Backup Vocals
David Zipse a virtuoso pianist who plays festivals, concert venues, casinos, clubs, restaurants and theater shows is also available for weddings, parties and corporate events. David is renowned for his vast repertoire of over 1000 memorized songs, and prides himself on being able to play most any request. From jazz standards to Broadway, from oldies and motown to classic and modern rock, David knows them all. His passion and perfectionism permeate everything he plays, and his mastery of the piano has the critics proclaiming him a true "virtuoso," a "PIANIST EXTRA-ORDINAIRE!"
Joel Popelsky - Drums
Joel Popelsky is a native of the Bronx, NY and has been playing drums for more than 50 years. In his early years he had the great fortune to study drums in NYC with Henry Adler, Norman Grossman and Frank Marino. Joel played in numerous original and cover bands in the NY tristate area and was lucky enough to play at the famed CBGB's in NYC. He has authored three drumming instructional articles which appeared in Modern Drummer Magazine.
Bruce Kevin - Guitar
Bruce Kevin - Originally from Annapolis, MD, he grew up in a musical household. He learned his first guitar chords from his Dad at age 13. Influenced by the great guitarists of the 70's, he has expanded his style enjoying multiple genres, country, blues, progressive rock and reggae. His love of speaking the international language of music with any and all musical enthusiasts keep him active in the Delaware music scene in Electric Smoke, The Grey Fox, and most recently The Soul Chase.
Irv “Chili” Rodrigues - Bass Guitar
Irv “Chili” Rodrigues a founding member of The Soul Chase Band had played bass for over 30 years. Originally from the Arlington area, Irv played bass in DC area, blues, rockabilly, and R&B bands including The Psyco Girls, Problem Child, and Blind Date. He was surprised to find no local reggae bands at the Mid-Atlantic, eastern shore beaches. He re-started his music carrier with the Repeat Offenders, and The Short Term Memories while starting the Soul Chase Band.
Tad Thayer - Sax
Tad (Deacon) Thayer started on piano, switched to clarinet, and then settled on tenor sax at Deerfield Academy. Tad played lead tenor for the Bucknell Jazz and Rock Ensemble at the Montreux Jazz festival in 1976, Disney World, the Kennedy Center, and recorded several live and studio albums with them. After college, Deacon played for many years as a side man with local bands in Greenwich Village and near his home town in New York. Tad loves the creativity and improvisation the band brings to reggae and funk music.
ALTERNATES: We use a rotation of great players so we never have to miss a gig! Each player brings their style which gives us a little variety, while maintaining the Soul Chase Vibe. This system gives us flexibility to accommodate family, schedules, and geographic locations.
Jason Rus - Guitar
Jay Schwartz - Guitar
Jay Schwartz - Guitar
Jason is a well as an Eastern Shores musician with bands such as Identity Crisis and several local bands.
Jay Schwartz - Guitar
Jay Schwartz - Guitar
Jay Schwartz - Guitar
Jay, another founding member has returned to us. Jay played in the Philadelphia music circuit in an agency band. He brings us his "Fender" sound, and amazing style.
Eden Cooney - Guitar
Jay Schwartz - Guitar
Eden Cooney - Guitar
Eden is a 20 year old phenom from a family of local miusicians. He plays with the Fitzkee Brothers, and fills in with other local bands as needed. He's done a great job filling in for us too.
Paul Weik - Drums
Wayne Russell - Drums
Eden Cooney - Guitar
Pauli is best known as the original drummer for Lower Case Blues prior to The Soul Chase, and Gold Star, He's a founding member of the band, and helps transforming songs to our vibe.
Wayne Russell - Drums
Wayne Russell - Drums
Wayne Russell - Drums
Influenced by DC Go-Go, Reggae, Funk, Wayne brings The Soul Chase the perfect groove for our vibe
Dave Stack - Drums
Wayne Russell - Drums
Wayne Russell - Drums
A life-time professional touring musician from Baltimore was recently added to our rotation. Picture coming soon
Rob Barbarita – Sax
Rob Barbarita – Sax
Rob Barbarita – Sax
UD music major, Beacon MS music director & teacher, sings, and plays guitar, bass, & sax
Billy Bilbo - Keys
Rob Barbarita – Sax
Rob Barbarita – Sax
Billy is based in Ocean City. He's played keys hosting open mics, and joined the Soul Chase 2 years ago.