2020 All Access Pass Interview with Jason Scheff

[@nanfan58]

He is one of the nicest and most humble artists I've ever met. I met him last year and was totally awed and yet very comfortable. He made me feel very welcome. He has one of the most beautiful voices and is an excellent bassist. It was a highlight in my life to meet him!

[@Petergalvan]

Met Jason, my favorite Chicago band member of all time, after a show in Vegas in 1995 at a sushi bar and he was so gracious and when I told him I had seen Chicago over a hundred times and it’s number 1 fan, he was exactly like the story he tells in this interview. Hope you continue to make beautiful music Jason!

[@gjonesii]

Jason is such a nice person

[@lamarravery4094]

Jason's a standup guy, I thank him for being with my favorite band of all time for all those years and I wish him all the best.

[@willjones6400]

i was born in 88 to huge chicago fans, i have probably seen jason over 20 times. thanks for all the great memories.

[@JasonicaPR]

Excellent interview, thanks for posting it!!😀 Jason was really so candid, clever and sweet, humble, funny, gracious and elegant, all at the same time!!😀🥰😍💗

[@Dboys122]

It’s funny how With Peter,Bill and Jason gone Chicago lives on in some form but we still get to hear those guys doing Chicago tunes on there own,love it.

[@algallego]

Scheff did a lot of underrated music-- he wrote so many songs which should have gotten more radio airplay! What a class act in the way he addressed the Cetera to Scheff transition. I saw him wish Arnel Pineda well when he was at a Journey concert backstage or on the backlot and it just cemented for me all the more highly what I think of Scheff; he was definitely a wonderful man in the crowd when I saw him compliment Arnel! Jason seems to be a very humble individual versus the seemingly egotistical Cetera, sad to say because I love Cetera's music, also. I think I'd rather have a sit down with Scheff than Cetera if ever I could sit with a celebrity musician and pick his brain about music composition or production. Great interview!

[@waltersimmons946]

Cetera was not egotistical he had good ideas that actually benefited Chicago . Cetera also praised Jason by a phone message he left Jason after first hearing Chicago 18 . Jason acknowledged Cetera's support and phone message on John Beaudins ROCK HISTORY last year. They're both good guys.

[@MarkGunnMedia]

I met Jason during his first tour with Chicago and he couldn't have been any more gracious. We connected again on social media years ago and reminded him of that meeting. Since then, we've been able to chat every now and then and it's good to see him doing his thing again.

[@tod3msn]

Kudos for acknowledging Bill Champlain’s role in Chicago.

[@donjoseph73]

Really guys I’ve know the family since I was a kid and it’s true. Jason is not about that bs he’s a good friend!! Love you Jas.

[@jerrygeist1677]

He is just amazing , talented , kind a real powerhouse all around! 1st class all the way!

[@wilengle8468]

I'm old enough that I got to enjoy Terry's Dynamite Guitar and Soulful Vocal's and the early years. Bobby Lamm was the Keyboardist I always wanted to be. Terry's sudden death Rocked me totally. I remember when Bobby first introduced Peter at their Concert in Tulsa. His vocals brought the sound that helped elevate Chicago to the Stratosphere of the 70's. David Foster's involvement helped Chicago to Discover some Powerful Power Ballad's they had lurking beneath the surface. Jason came in when Bill Champlin left resurecting Chicago's Sound and elevating it once more. I remember Jason's vocals when Chicago played at an OKC Baseball game/Concert. Having been around from the beginning to 2021 I'm not long for the world and its been quite a Lifetime of Music that I'm so grateful to have been a part of. As a Disc Jockey I've spun 45's, LP's and even pushing the button when we began playing Music on Carts that looked like an 8 Track but only held a single song. It was always Cued up and seldom messed up. Then I left Radio never to break open a mic once Radio began playing Digitally.... Jason's Voice is Unique to Jason and I really enjoyed listening to him singing Lyrics that were written for someone else... He's good but Not my first choice.. Before you take a dump on me understand that I was spoiled with so many other voices over 50 years of Rock Singers!! He's Absolutely Earned the Respect and Title as Lead Vocalist of Chicago!! Rock On Jason, Brother. You've not only crafted the sound but also raised a son who is Quite the Artist as well.

[@jennapuhl596]

We miss you with Chicago band 😢❤. Unfortunately, I saw you with Earth,Wind and Fire in 2016 in Florida and you all were awesome. The Unfortunately was after the concert here in Northeast Florida I had an accident and ended up in the er but all night all I could think in my head was what a beautiful night 🌙I had with you all. I left the next morning with staples in my head 🙃. But I still remembered

[@timkerwin6886]

Great interview. Saw Jason and Todd in December when they did the tour for Beatles White Album. Great artist

[@OttawaNow]

It's The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Beach Boys, The Bee Gees, Chicago

[@mmee24]

Big time respect for Jason Sheff. Beautiful vocalist and outstanding bassist. Jason doesn't have to take a back seat to anyone. His contributions while a member of Chicago are enormous. "Bigger than Elvis", "Love Lives On", all of Chicago 19, etc. The track I always like to play for folks is the solo rendition of "Stairway to Heaven" as member of "The West Coast All Stars". Fabulous.....it can be found here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d4rPomyqfpmVeck Jason's new release is a keeper and he sounds terrific on it. Gettin' off the Chicago touring machine seems to agreed with him. Jason Sheff......Thanks for all the years....much respect !

[@jamesgazdik9497]

I couldn't agree more. He is pure class until the end!

[@eojeda1375]

WOW I am amazed !!! Cheers Jason !!!! from Monterrey, MEXICO !!!!!

[@micustic]

2 cool dudes, thank you

[@selenesimonson9930]

So lovely and humble; love that he plays base in Robert Lamm’s non-Chicago endeavors.

[@timkerwin6886]

I saw Chicago in 1970; they were Chicago Transit Authority; and they opened up for Iron Butterfly

[@selenesimonson9930]

Must have been amazing!!

[@timkerwin6886]

@@selenesimonson9930 it was a great show

[@alanfurlong-drummer4419]

Great man Jason.

[@FlamesAt1000ft]

THE VERY TALENTED,..DOWN TO EARTH GUY in Show Business ‼️✨🎶🎸🎙 But,..too bad that they digressed (for a fine reason tho’‼️☝🏾🧐)..from that “very good question”..that some of us were dying to hear or get an answer to!!…Love Chicago Band and all that Jason brought to the franchise/family!! 💐✨🎶🎸🎙👏🏾👍🏾😎All the best to him and family as well!!…He was such an inspiration for my own Music Career! 🤘🏾☺️You Rock!..and Soul!!🎶✨🎙🎸🎼 Brother!!! ✌🏾

[@JasonicaPR]

It's interesting how the examples that Jason names that Seth Riggs worked with were all black men...And many of the artist that influenced Jason while growing up were black, like Earth Wind and Fire. I had never seen Jason as an R&B singer...even though I know he is capable to sing different music genres. But to me he was the Romantic, sweet guy in Chicago and all his songs were pop/rock and ballads, and that was why I became his fan in first place. But I enjoy him singing some soulful songs, like "I Have The Honor", and his rendition of the Christmas song "This Christmas" from Don Hathaway was pretty well done, he sang with very much R&B in his voice while not stopping being himself. Many people applauded that version... but to me, he will always be my "tender, power ballad " man.💓❤

[@donjoseph73]

Wow bro I didn’t know Linda did that!! Man that’s awesome!

[@warrenmorphis4208]

HELLACIOUS bass player!!

[@marisakikoasuncion8872]

loveyou jason scheff.. hope to see u someday..mwaahhh😘😘

[@CommishTV]

Really enjoyed this interview. For years (especially the 1980s) I sort of held it against Jason because he wasn't Peter Cetera. But even he realized he was an "imposter" initially from the story he told about the Vietnam vets. I have to say from this interview and others I've heard that Jason is a super-nice and humble guy, which is unlike a number of his ex-bandmates from Chicago--I'm thinking of guys like Pankow, Lamm, Champlin(!!) and yes, even Cetera. And although I didn't care so much for the Top 40 hits in the late 80s with "the new guys" in the band, I certainly acknowledge their contributions to Chicago's legacy unlike the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

[@luisalonsoecheverria]

It's a crime that Jason and Bill got snubbed from being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame w/Chicago. Their voices gave the band massive chart success through the second half of the 80s and carried the band's legacy up until they both left. Hell, Bill sang lead on more hits in 5 years than Robert Lamm ever did in Chicago's entire existence. Plus, both are monster musicians and real standup guys.

[@brentj.peterson6070]

That's terrible! They were major contributors. How petty.

[@alwaysimitatedneverduplica4527]

So true! Bill and Jason helped the band stay relevant for the next 30 years after Terry and Peter left. 3 decades is no joke. In fact, they stayed longer than Peter and Terry

[@gjjmgrace]

hi jason, i miss your voice

[@jeffreyharris8072]

Does anyone really know how/why he left Chicago?? He was on a leave of absence for awhile...then just seemed to go away.

[@jennapuhl596]

It doesn't really matter!! Family comes ❤first!!

[@waltersimmons946]

Some information was saying Jason was vocally struggling his last ten years in the band and I would say that was probably combined with Chicago's punishing touring (they never took a year off) schedule after 30 yrs. It can catch up to anybody. Cetera and Jeff Coffey left because the touring was very hectic. Cetera retired in 2020 because of touring and he felt he was losing more of his range. Bill Champlin recently said Jason is a better singer now than he was his whole time in Chicago.

[@donjoseph73]

lol I would cry and they say bro is there sushi on this ship bro?

[@ZenyattaFan1]

After Jeff Coffey left Chicago, why didn't Jason go back? My guess is that he wasn't invited back because the band wanted to save money and decided they would just hire Neil Donnell and pay him a flat salary. That is just my guess. Does anyone have any information as to why Jason did not return to the band?

[@beegee1323]

I have no firsthand knowledge but my guess is there was more to Jason's departure than supporting his wife while caring for ailing in-laws. Considering the recent exodus of multiple Chicago members like Champlin, Imboden, Coffey, Howland and Pardini, there seems to be an aura of toxicity within the band. Cetera has often described his departure as the end of a marriage which is why he would never return to the band. I suspect Jason's situation had similar issues. I think what happens is that these guys, as they age and become financially independent, want more control over their life and the way they spend their time. They don't have that control with Pankow, Lamm and Loughnane running the show.

[@ClintThomsen]

Wait… didn’t he leave Chicago in 2016? Why are we talking about him being the “voice of Chicago” into the 2020’?

[@alwaysimitatedneverduplica4527]

Bill Champlin and Jason Scheff brought a certain distinct style to Chicago and helped the band move forward for the next 3 decades after Terry and Peter left. In fact, Bill and Jason stayed longer than the original vocals. And 3 decades of moving forward, touring and staying relevant is no easy feat. Chicago will never be the same without the dynamic voice duo of Bill and Jason. I just find the latest line up as a tribute/cover band. They do not have their own distinctive style. Sorry not sorry.

[@randychase305]

This guy is on drugs if he thinks his "half of the 80s" is on par with Cetera's dominance of Chicago 16 & 17.

[@brucebernardini4107]

gained a little weight??

[@jennapuhl596]

Still looks 👍!! How about you?

[@brentj.peterson6070]

Everyone does as they age unfortunately. chill out.

[@alanfurlong-drummer4419]

Yeah what’s your point man,? If it bothers you get over it