Paul Chambers

Paul Laurence Dunbar Chambers Jr. was one of the most important bass players in the 1950's and '60s. He worked and recorded in numerous groups, most notably with Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Other Jazz legends that we played with are Sonny Rollins, Cannonball Adderley, J. J. Johnson, and Lee Morgan.

Paul Chambers was born in Pittsburgh, in 1935. After the death of his mother he moved to Detroit, where he took up the string bass in 1949. A gifted musician, he mastered his instrument and moved to New York in 1954. He gigged regularly in the big apple and joined Miles Davis' first great quintet in 1955, at the age of 20. In 1956 he won the "New Star" award form Downbeat. Chambers stayed with Miles for seven years and in this time recorded with Coltrane and Rollins, as well as being a sideman on numerous Blue Note records. After leaving Miles in 1962, Chambers worked with Wynton Kelly and James Cobb as well as Wes Montgomery. Paul Chambers died on Jan. 4, 1969 from Tuberculosis.

Paul Chambers was a master walker and a superb soloist. When he walked, he laid his middle finger over his index, which accounts for his relaxed feel, as he played on the back of the beat. Chambers did not have the control over his instrument that others such as Ray Brown did, but his harmonic sense made his walking lines interesting. His approach to outlining chords made the most of each position he was in. As a soloist, Chambers approach was similar his time keeping. He played harmonically rich, swinging lines in the lower register of the instrument. Upon analysis of his playing, one can see how he was profoundly influenced by Bird. In many of his solos, Chambers demonstrates his virtuosity with the bow.