TALENTED TEENS; YOUNG MUSICIANS MAKING MARK.

Byline: P. CATHERINE SHANKS Community Columnist

Two young musicians are busy laying down tracks and making musical inroads: Sixteen-year-old keyboardist Derek Yellin and 13-year-old saxophonist Chase Conove are embarking on careers in jazz that may well have more seasoned players sitting up and taking notice.

Since age 10, Chase has been playing sax with his father's band, Playback, regularly appearing at The Promenade at Westlake and at The Commons in Calabasas, where mall visitors are instantly won over by the junior musician with the not-so-junior talent.

According to his father, Playback keyboardist Rob Conove, Chase knows how to work the room.

``He can get into a conversation with anybody,'' Conove said. ``He's real approachable.''

Chase is gifted with more than a pleasant manner and a winning way with people. In concerts and in contests, his talent shines through. Among his honors - a first place award in the 1998 Apollo Kids Live competition at the Apollo Theater.

``Playing at the Apollo and winning was great,'' said Chase, an Oak Park resident who has performed twice at the famous New York venue.

As the young reedman continues to mature musically, his credits and appearances are including television appearances on the ``Jenny Jones Show,'' ``The Rosie O'Donnell Show,'' as a guest performer on the ``Sally Jesse Raphael'' show and on ``In Person With Maureen O'Boyle.''

He separated his immediate career goals into performing and developing his skills. ``My main goal is to keep getting better,'' he said. ``I'd like to do more TV.''

Chase is also the featured soloist on a recently released CD titled ``Chasing Dream,'' an album of original music written by Playback band members Tommy Orlando, Mike Renneker and Jim Rolfe that showcases Chase on tunes with cleverly adolescent sounding titles.

The saxophone sings and wails on numbers like, ``Don't Argue With the Big Dog,'' ``Are We There Yet?'' and ``Bad Attitude Boogie.''

``People don't realize the time and energy that goes into making a CD,'' Rob Conove said. He described driving to and from a year's worth of recording sessions with Chase in the back seat eating a burger with one hand and finishing his homework with the other. ``It's a real sacrifice.''

For the younger Conove, the idea of a recording session being at all equated with sacrifice never entered into the mix. He leapt at the chance to get into the studio.

``At first, I didn't think I was good enough to do it,'' Chase said. ``But the material was written for where I was at. Now, I could handle something tougher.''

And he knows the work is tough. The confident musician relived the process of laying down the title track. ``My chops didn't feel too good after playing it for hours, working the phrasing over and over. The producer just wanted it perfect,'' he said.

No matter how grueling the process may be at times, for Chase, music is it. He likes the music of Charlie Parker, and he hopes to some day play as well as his teacher, Vince Trombetta.

``He lays down records, and he's really good,'' Chase said. ``He's been around.''

Keyboard player Derek Yellin is busy booking gigs and playing as often as he can. For Yellin, making it professionally in music is well worth the extra effort required.

``It's not very easy,'' said Yellin, who finds engaging both sides of his brain a bit taxing at times.

``You can be a great musician and make no money,'' said the pianist. ``Whatever you want to do, you can't go blindly at it.''

Yellin focused his energies on the piano at age 4. He began formal piano studies a few years later, dutifully carrying out every task assigned by his teachers. He learned his scales and his piano theory. He practiced his songs and his exercises. He only ran into trouble when he dared to show off a little tune that was not included in the prescribed repertoire.

``I got a sticker on my music for good work,'' Yellin said. ``I was so happy I started playing `Great Balls of Fire.' '' The teacher did not respond favorably to the pop tune, he said.

By age 10, Yellin was determined that he wanted to pursue a career in music. He sought out teachers who would work with him on the music and styles he wanted to play. He has performed with the Moorpark College Jazz Ensemble and at the Thelonious Monk Institute. On scholarship, he recently attended a Los Angeles workshop presented by the Berklee School of Music.

Influenced by jazz masters Count Basie and Herbie Hancock, Yellin has developed a musical style that he calls a melding of modern jazz, rhythm and blues, and funk. The keyboard player knows he has a long road to travel before he finds himself where he wants to be.

``I'm not seasoned,'' Yellin said. ``You're never good enough. You can always get better. I'll always have room to grow.''

The accomplished young artist said his previous teachers would be happy to know that he continues to practice his scales all day and all night - whenever his bookings allow.

SHOW TIMES

Chase Conove, coming performances with the band Playback:

Tonight and Aug. 28 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at The Commons in Calabasas.

Saturday and Aug. 27 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at The Promenade at Westlake.

For information, call [phone].

Derek Yellin, coming solo performances and with the Derek Yellin Trio:

Thursday at 5 p.m. and during intermission of a Barry Harris concert at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles.

Aug. 29 from 1 to 4 p.m. The Promenade at Westlake and every Saturday at the Janss Marketplace in Thousand Oaks.

For information, call [phone].

CAPTION(S):

3 Photos, Box

Photo: (1--Color) Chase Conove, 13, is an accomplished saxophonist who started playing at 10. His CD, ``Chasing Dream,'' was recently released.

Eric Grigorian/Special to the Daily News

(2--Color) Derek Yellin, 16, practices jazz in his bedroom. Already booking gigs and playing as often as possible, Yellin has developed a musical style that he calls a melding of modern jazz, rhythm and blues, and funk.

(3) Pianist Derek Yellin still practices day and night whenever his bookings, such as his upcoming local appearances, allow.

Gus Ruelas/Staff Photographer

Box: SHOW TIMES (See text)