Paul Chambers
One of the premier bassists in jazz history, Paul Chambers had it all: a beautiful tone, a fluid technique, a great choice of notes, impeccable time and a magnificent sense of swing. He could even take a bowed solo and keep it interesting and in tune.
Paul Chambers was born in Pittsburgh in 1935, and grew up in Detroit, where he became part of the city's growing jazz scene. He moved to New York, where he played in the J.J. Johnson-Kai Winding quintet. He joined Miles Davis' first legendary quintet along with John Coltrane, Philly Joe Jones, and Red Garland, at the age of 20. As the bass player, he complimented Jones perfectly on fast songs and played just well on ballads. He spent the bulk of his prime years (1955-1963) as a member of the Miles Davis Quintet, participating in virtually all of Davis' classic recordings of the era. After leaving Davis' group, he continued working with the pianist who replaced Garland in Davis' group, Wynton Kelly, and he did freelance work in New York.
Paul was about 15 when he started to listen to Bird and Bud, his first jazz influences. Oscar Pettiford and Ray Brown, the first bassists he admired, were followed in his book by Percy Heath, Milt Hinton and Wendell Marshall for their rhythm section work, Charles Mingus and George Duvivier for their technical powers and for their efforts in broadening the scope of jazz bass. Blanton, of course, is his all-time favorite, the perennial poll winner in his ballot.
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Album Review
- Bass on Top by Joel Roberts
- The Complete Vee Jay Paul Chambers/Wynton Kelly Sessions 1959-61 by C. Andrew Hovan
- Mosaic Select 5: Paul Chambers by C. Andrew Hovan
My Blue Note Obsession
- Paul Chambers: Whims of Chambers – Blue Note 1534
- Paul Chambers: Bass on Top – 1957
- Paul Chambers: Paul Chambers Quintet - 1957
Radio & Podcasts
Read more articlesNovember 05, 2009
Listen to the Bass Player: Part 4, Paul Chambers
October 15, 2003
Mosaic Select Series: Paul Chambers & John Patton
March 01, 2001
Mosaic Records The Complete Vee Jay Paul Chambers & Wynton Kelly