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Top Albums by Paul Chambers
Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on April 22, 1935, Chambers was raised in Detroit, Michigan following the death of his mother. He began playing music with several of his schoolmates; the baritone horn was his first instrument. Later he took up the tuba. "I got along pretty well, but it's quite a job to carry it around in those long parades, and I didn't like the instrument that much." Chambers became a string bassist around 1949. His formal bass training got going in earnest in 1952, when he began taking lessons with a bassist in theDetroit Symphony Orchestra. Chambers did some classical work himself, with a group called the Detroit String Band that was, in effect, a rehearsal symphony orchestra. Studying at Cass Technical High School off and on from 1952 to 1955, he played in Cass' own symphony, and in various other student groups, one of which had him playing baritone saxophone. By the time he left for New York at the invitation of tenor saxophonist Paul Quinichette, he had absorbed a working knowledge of many instruments.
Jazz bass players were largely limited to time keeping with drums, until Duke Ellington's bassist Jimmy Blanton began a transformation in the instrument's role at the end of the 1930s. Chambers was about 15 when he started to listen to Charlie Parker and Bud Powell, his first jazz influences. Oscar Pettiford and Ray Brown were the first bassists he admired, and these were followed by Percy Heath, Milt Hinton and Wendell Marshall for their rhythm section work, and Charles Mingus and George Duvivier for their technical prowess and for their efforts in broadening the scope of jazz bass. Blanton was his all-time favorite. Playing his first gig at one of the little bars in the Hastings Street area, he was soon doing club jobs with Thad Jones, Barry Harris and others.
From 1954 on through 1955, he gained significance touring with such musicians as Bennie Green, Quinichette, George Wallington, J. J. Johnson and Kai Winding. In 1955 he joined the Miles Davis quintet, staying on with the group until 1963 and appearing on many classic albums, including Kind of Blue. One of Chambers's most noted performances was on that album's first track, "So What", which opens with a brief duet featuring Chambers and pianist Bill Evans. The sessions for Kind of Blue were difficult for all of the musicians, working to the peak of their musical abilities. Chambers' playing on Kind of Blue are some of the most patient and thought out bass lines in the history of jazz. From 1963 until 1968 Chambers played with the Wynton Kelly trio. He freelanced frequently as a sideman for other important names in jazz throughout his career. During the course of his lifetime Paul Chambers developed addictions to both alcohol and heroin. On January 4, 1969 he died of tuberculosis at the premature age of 33.
Influence
Chambers' accompaniment and solos with Davis and other leaders remain distinctive and influential. He and Slam Stewart were among the first jazz bassists to perform arco or bowed features.[citation needed] From his role in the Davis band, Chambers was the bassist in two rhythm sections. The first, with Red Garland on piano and Philly Joe Jones on drums, came to be known as "the rhythm section," that name featured on a celebrated album by saxophonist Art Pepper, Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section. The second, with Wynton Kelly and Jimmy Cobb, made many sessions as a unit, recording albums with John Coltrane, Wes Montgomery, and by themselves under Kelly's name such as Kelly Blue.
Paul Chambers was in great demand as a session musician, and played on numerous albums during the period he was active including such landmarks as Thelonious Monk'sBrilliant Corners, Coltrane's Giant Steps, and Oliver Nelson's The Blues and the Abstract Truth. Many musicians wrote songs dedicated to Chambers. Long-time fellow Davis bandmate, pianist Red Garland, wrote the tune "The P.C. Blues", and Coltrane's song "Mr. P.C." is named after Chambers. Tommy Flanagan wrote "Big Paul", which was performed on the John Coltrane and Kenny Burrell Prestige 1958 LP. Max Roach wrote a drum solo called "Five For Paul", on a 1977 drum solo LP recorded in Japan, and Sonny Rollins wrote "Paul's Pal" for him as well.
As a leader
Chambers' Music (Aladdin/Jazz West, 1956)
Whims Of Chambers (Blue Note, 1956)
Paul Chambers Quintet (Blue Note, 1957)
Bass on Top (Blue Note, 1957)
Go (Vee-Jay, 1959)
High Step (Blue Note, 1956) (w/John Coltrane)
The East/West Controversy (Xanadu, 1957) (w/Hampton Hawes)
We Three (Prestige/New Jazz, 1958) (w/Roy Haynes & Phineas Newborn)
Ease It (Charly/Affinity, 1959) (w/Julian "Cannonball" Adderley)
Just Friends (Charly/Le Jazz, 1959) (w/Julian "Cannonball" Adderley)
1st Bassman (Vee-Jay, 1960)
As sideman
Cannonball Adderley
Julian "Cannonball" Adderley (EmArcy, 1955)
Cannonball Adderley Quintet in Chicago (Mercury, 1959)
Cannonball Takes Charge (Riverside, 1959)
Nat Adderley
Introducing Nat Adderley (Mercury/Wing, 1955); reissued as Them Adderleys (Limelight, 1966)
Naturally! (Jazzland, 1961)
Toshiko Akiyoshi
The Toshiko Trio (Storyville, 1956)
Toshiko Mariano and her Big Band (Vee-Jay, 1964)
Lorez Alexandria
Alexandria the Great (Impulse!, 1964)
Chet Baker
Chet (Riverside, 1959)
Tina Brooks
Back To The Tracks (Blue Note, 1960)
Kenny Burrell
Introducing Kenny Burrell (Blue Note, 1956)
John Jenkins with Kenny Burrell (Blue Note, 1957)
Kenny Burrell and John Coltrane (Prestige, 1958)
Donald Byrd
Motor City Scene (Bethlehem, 1960)
Sonny Clark
Sonny's Crib (Blue Note, 1957)
Sonny Clark Trio (Blue Note, 1957)
Cool Struttin' (Blue Note, 1958)
Blues In The Night (Blue Note, 1958)
My Conception (Blue Note, 1959)
Jimmy Cleveland
Introducing Jimmy Cleveland And His All Stars (EmArcy, 1955)
John Coltrane
Blue Train (Blue Note, 1957)
Coltrane (Prestige, 1957)
Bahia (Prestige, 1958)
Black Pearls (Prestige, 1958)
Lush Life (Prestige, 1958)
Settin' The Pace (Prestige, 1958)
Traneing In (Prestige, 1958)
Soultrane (Prestige, 1958)
Stardust (Prestige, 1958)
The Believer (Prestige, 1958)
The Last Trane (Prestige, 1958)
(w/Milt Jackson) Bags and Trane (Atlantic, 1960)
Giant Steps (Atlantic, 1960)
(w/Julian "Cannonball" Adderley) Cannonball and Coltrane (Phillips, 1965)
Miles Davis
Miles (Prestige, 1955)
'Round About Midnight (Columbia, 1955)
Cookin' (Prestige, 1956)
Relaxin' (Prestige, 1956)
Steamin' (Prestige, 1956)
Workin' (Prestige, 1956)
Collectors' Items (Prestige, 1956)
Miles Ahead (Columbia, 1957)
Milestones (Columbia, 1958)
Porgy and Bess (Columbia, 1958)
Kind of Blue (Columbia, 1959)
Sketches of Spain (Columbia, 1960)
Someday My Prince Will Come (Columbia, 1961)
In Person Friday and Saturday Nights at the Blackhawk, Complete (1961)
Quiet Nights (Columbia, 1962)
Kenny Dorham
Blue Spring (Riverside, 1959)
Quiet Kenny (Prestige, 1959)
Whistle Stop (Blue Note, 1961)
Kenny Drew
Kenny Drew Trio (Riverside, 1956)
Bill Evans
On Green Dolphin Street (Riverside, 1959)
Gil Evans
Gil Evans & Ten (Prestige, 1957)
The Complete Pacific Jazz Sessions' (Pacific Jazz, 1958)
The Individualism of Gil Evans (Verve, 1964)
Curtis Fuller
Curtis Fuller with Red Garland (Prestige, 1957)
The Opener (Blue Note, 1957)
Curtis Fuller Jazztette with Benny Golson (Savoy, 1959)
Red Garland
A Garland of Red (Prestige, 1956)
Groovy (Prestige, 1957)
Red Garland Revisited! (Prestige, 1957)
Red Garland's Piano (Prestige, 1957)
P.C. Blues (Prestige, 1957)
Dig It! (Prestige, 1958)
Can't See For Lookin' (Prestige, 1958)
It's a Blue World (Prestige, 1958)
Manteca (Prestige, 1958)
All Kinds of Weather (Prestige, 1959)
Red in Bluesville (Prestige, 1959)
Dexter Gordon
Dexter Calling (Blue Note, 1961)
Benny Golson
Benny Golson's New York Scene (Contemporary, 1957)
The Modern Touch (Riverside, 1958)
Groovin' With Golson (Prestige, 1959)
Turning Point (Mercury, 1962)
Bennie Green
Bennie Green Blows His Horn (Prestige, 1955)
The 45 Session (Blue Note, 1958)
Glidin' Along (Jazzland, 1961)
Grant Green
First Session (Blue Note, 1960)
Johnny Griffin
A Blowing Session (Blue Note, 1957)
The Congregation (Blue Note, 1957)
Herbie Hancock
Inventions and Dimensions (Blue Note, 1963)
Barry Harris
Bull's Eye (Fantasy, 1968)
Joe Henderson
Four (Verve, 1968)
Straight, No Chaser (Verve, 1968)
Freddie Hubbard
Here to Stay (Blue Note, 1962)
Milt "Bags" Jackson
Bags and Trane (Atlantic, (w/John Coltrane) 1960)
Statements (Impulse!, 1961)
John Jenkins
John Jenkins with Kenny Burrell (Blue Note, 1957)
J. J. Johnson
The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson Volume 2 (Blue Note, 1955)
Trombone For 2 (w/Kai Winding) (Columbia, 1955)
The Great Kai & J. J. (w/Kai Winding)(Impulse!, 1960)
Philly Joe Jones
Philly Joe's Beat (Atlantic, 1960)
Philly Joe Jones & Elvin Jones Together! (Atlantic, 1964)
Clifford Jordan
Cliff Jordan (Blue Note, 1957)
Wynton Kelly
Piano (Riverside, 1958)
Kelly Blue (Riverside, 1959)
Kelly at Midnight (Vee-Jay, 1960)
Kelly Great (Vee-Jay, 1960)
Wynton Kelly! (Vee-Jay, 1961)
Comin' in the Back Door (Verve, 1963)
Abbey Lincoln
That's Him (Riverside, 1957)
Jackie McLean
McLean's Scene (Prestige/New Jazz, 1957)
Jackie's Bag (Blue Note, 1959)
New Soil (Blue Note, 1959)
Capuchin Swing (Blue Note, 1960)
Blue Mitchell
Out of the Blue (Riverside, 1958)
Hank Mobley
Tenor Conclave (Prestige, 1956)
Peckin' Time (Blue Note, 1958)
Roll Call (Blue Note, 1960)
Soul Station (Blue Note, 1960)
Workout (Blue Note, 1961)
Another Workout (Blue Note, 1961)
The Turnaround (Blue Note, 1965)
Thelonious Monk
Brilliant Corners (Riverside, 1956)
Lee Morgan
Lee Morgan Sextet (Blue Note, 1956)
Lee Morgan Vol. 3 (Blue Note, 1957)
City Lights (Blue Note, 1957)
The Cooker (Blue Note, 1957)
Lee-Way (Blue Note, 1960)
Here's Lee Morgan (Vee-Jay, 1960)
Charisma (Blue Note, 1966)
The Rajah (Blue Note, 1966)
Wes Montgomery
Full House (Riverside, 1962)
Smokin' at the Half Note (Verve, 1965)
Willow Weep for Me (Verve, 1969)
Oliver Nelson
The Blues and the Abstract Truth (Impulse!, 1961)
Phineas Newborn, Jr.
A World of Piano (Contemporary, 1961)
Art Pepper
Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section (Contemporary, 1957)
Gettin' Together (Contemporary, 1960)
Bud Powell
Bud! The Amazing Bud Powell (Vol. 3) (Blue Note, 1957)
The Scene Changes: The Amazing Bud Powell (Vol. 5) (Blue Note, 1958)
Ike Quebec
Blue And Sentimental (Blue Note, 1961)
Sonny Red
Out of the Blue (Blue Note, 1960)
Freddie Redd
Shades of Redd (Blue Note, 1960)
Redd's Blues (Blue Note, 1961)
Sonny Rollins
Tenor Madness (Prestige, 1956)
Sonny Rollins: Volume 2 (Blue Note, 1957)
Sound of Sonny (Riverside, 1957)
Louis Smith
Smithville (Blue Note, 1958)
Frank Strozier
Fantastic (Koch Jazz, 1960)
Art Taylor
A.T.'s Delight (Blue Note, 1960)
Clark Terry
Serenade to a Bus Seat (Riverside, 1957)
Kai Winding
The Trombone Sound (Columbia, 1955)
Trombone For 2 (w/J. J. Johnson)(Columbia, 1955)
The Great Kai & J. J. (w/J. J. Johnson)(Impulse!, 1960)
Chambers' accompaniment and solos with Davis and other leaders remain distinctive and influential. He and Slam Stewart were among the first jazz bassists to perform arco or bowed features.[citation needed] From his role in the Davis band, Chambers was the bassist in two rhythm sections. The first, with Red Garland on piano and Philly Joe Jones on drums, came to be known as "the rhythm section," that name featured on a celebrated album by saxophonist Art Pepper, Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section. The second, with Wynton Kelly and Jimmy Cobb, made many sessions as a unit, recording albums with John Coltrane, Wes Montgomery, and by themselves under Kelly's name such as Kelly Blue.
Paul Chambers was in great demand as a session musician, and played on numerous albums during the period he was active including such landmarks as Thelonious Monk'sBrilliant Corners, Coltrane's Giant Steps, and Oliver Nelson's The Blues and the Abstract Truth. Many musicians wrote songs dedicated to Chambers. Long-time fellow Davis bandmate, pianist Red Garland, wrote the tune "The P.C. Blues", and Coltrane's song "Mr. P.C." is named after Chambers. Tommy Flanagan wrote "Big Paul", which was performed on the John Coltrane and Kenny Burrell Prestige 1958 LP. Max Roach wrote a drum solo called "Five For Paul", on a 1977 drum solo LP recorded in Japan, and Sonny Rollins wrote "Paul's Pal" for him as well.
As a leader
Chambers' Music (Aladdin/Jazz West, 1956)
Whims Of Chambers (Blue Note, 1956)
Paul Chambers Quintet (Blue Note, 1957)
Bass on Top (Blue Note, 1957)
Go (Vee-Jay, 1959)
High Step (Blue Note, 1956) (w/John Coltrane)
The East/West Controversy (Xanadu, 1957) (w/Hampton Hawes)
We Three (Prestige/New Jazz, 1958) (w/Roy Haynes & Phineas Newborn)
Ease It (Charly/Affinity, 1959) (w/Julian "Cannonball" Adderley)
Just Friends (Charly/Le Jazz, 1959) (w/Julian "Cannonball" Adderley)
1st Bassman (Vee-Jay, 1960)
As sideman
Cannonball Adderley
Julian "Cannonball" Adderley (EmArcy, 1955)
Cannonball Adderley Quintet in Chicago (Mercury, 1959)
Cannonball Takes Charge (Riverside, 1959)
Nat Adderley
Introducing Nat Adderley (Mercury/Wing, 1955); reissued as Them Adderleys (Limelight, 1966)
Naturally! (Jazzland, 1961)
Toshiko Akiyoshi
The Toshiko Trio (Storyville, 1956)
Toshiko Mariano and her Big Band (Vee-Jay, 1964)
Lorez Alexandria
Alexandria the Great (Impulse!, 1964)
Chet Baker
Chet (Riverside, 1959)
Tina Brooks
Back To The Tracks (Blue Note, 1960)
Kenny Burrell
Introducing Kenny Burrell (Blue Note, 1956)
John Jenkins with Kenny Burrell (Blue Note, 1957)
Kenny Burrell and John Coltrane (Prestige, 1958)
Donald Byrd
Motor City Scene (Bethlehem, 1960)
Sonny Clark
Sonny's Crib (Blue Note, 1957)
Sonny Clark Trio (Blue Note, 1957)
Cool Struttin' (Blue Note, 1958)
Blues In The Night (Blue Note, 1958)
My Conception (Blue Note, 1959)
Jimmy Cleveland
Introducing Jimmy Cleveland And His All Stars (EmArcy, 1955)
John Coltrane
Blue Train (Blue Note, 1957)
Coltrane (Prestige, 1957)
Bahia (Prestige, 1958)
Black Pearls (Prestige, 1958)
Lush Life (Prestige, 1958)
Settin' The Pace (Prestige, 1958)
Traneing In (Prestige, 1958)
Soultrane (Prestige, 1958)
Stardust (Prestige, 1958)
The Believer (Prestige, 1958)
The Last Trane (Prestige, 1958)
(w/Milt Jackson) Bags and Trane (Atlantic, 1960)
Giant Steps (Atlantic, 1960)
(w/Julian "Cannonball" Adderley) Cannonball and Coltrane (Phillips, 1965)
Miles Davis
Miles (Prestige, 1955)
'Round About Midnight (Columbia, 1955)
Cookin' (Prestige, 1956)
Relaxin' (Prestige, 1956)
Steamin' (Prestige, 1956)
Workin' (Prestige, 1956)
Collectors' Items (Prestige, 1956)
Miles Ahead (Columbia, 1957)
Milestones (Columbia, 1958)
Porgy and Bess (Columbia, 1958)
Kind of Blue (Columbia, 1959)
Sketches of Spain (Columbia, 1960)
Someday My Prince Will Come (Columbia, 1961)
In Person Friday and Saturday Nights at the Blackhawk, Complete (1961)
Quiet Nights (Columbia, 1962)
Kenny Dorham
Blue Spring (Riverside, 1959)
Quiet Kenny (Prestige, 1959)
Whistle Stop (Blue Note, 1961)
Kenny Drew
Kenny Drew Trio (Riverside, 1956)
Bill Evans
On Green Dolphin Street (Riverside, 1959)
Gil Evans
Gil Evans & Ten (Prestige, 1957)
The Complete Pacific Jazz Sessions' (Pacific Jazz, 1958)
The Individualism of Gil Evans (Verve, 1964)
Curtis Fuller
Curtis Fuller with Red Garland (Prestige, 1957)
The Opener (Blue Note, 1957)
Curtis Fuller Jazztette with Benny Golson (Savoy, 1959)
Red Garland
A Garland of Red (Prestige, 1956)
Groovy (Prestige, 1957)
Red Garland Revisited! (Prestige, 1957)
Red Garland's Piano (Prestige, 1957)
P.C. Blues (Prestige, 1957)
Dig It! (Prestige, 1958)
Can't See For Lookin' (Prestige, 1958)
It's a Blue World (Prestige, 1958)
Manteca (Prestige, 1958)
All Kinds of Weather (Prestige, 1959)
Red in Bluesville (Prestige, 1959)
Dexter Gordon
Dexter Calling (Blue Note, 1961)
Benny Golson
Benny Golson's New York Scene (Contemporary, 1957)
The Modern Touch (Riverside, 1958)
Groovin' With Golson (Prestige, 1959)
Turning Point (Mercury, 1962)
Bennie Green
Bennie Green Blows His Horn (Prestige, 1955)
The 45 Session (Blue Note, 1958)
Glidin' Along (Jazzland, 1961)
Grant Green
First Session (Blue Note, 1960)
Johnny Griffin
A Blowing Session (Blue Note, 1957)
The Congregation (Blue Note, 1957)
Herbie Hancock
Inventions and Dimensions (Blue Note, 1963)
Barry Harris
Bull's Eye (Fantasy, 1968)
Joe Henderson
Four (Verve, 1968)
Straight, No Chaser (Verve, 1968)
Freddie Hubbard
Here to Stay (Blue Note, 1962)
Milt "Bags" Jackson
Bags and Trane (Atlantic, (w/John Coltrane) 1960)
Statements (Impulse!, 1961)
John Jenkins
John Jenkins with Kenny Burrell (Blue Note, 1957)
J. J. Johnson
The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson Volume 2 (Blue Note, 1955)
Trombone For 2 (w/Kai Winding) (Columbia, 1955)
The Great Kai & J. J. (w/Kai Winding)(Impulse!, 1960)
Philly Joe Jones
Philly Joe's Beat (Atlantic, 1960)
Philly Joe Jones & Elvin Jones Together! (Atlantic, 1964)
Clifford Jordan
Cliff Jordan (Blue Note, 1957)
Wynton Kelly
Piano (Riverside, 1958)
Kelly Blue (Riverside, 1959)
Kelly at Midnight (Vee-Jay, 1960)
Kelly Great (Vee-Jay, 1960)
Wynton Kelly! (Vee-Jay, 1961)
Comin' in the Back Door (Verve, 1963)
Abbey Lincoln
That's Him (Riverside, 1957)
Jackie McLean
McLean's Scene (Prestige/New Jazz, 1957)
Jackie's Bag (Blue Note, 1959)
New Soil (Blue Note, 1959)
Capuchin Swing (Blue Note, 1960)
Blue Mitchell
Out of the Blue (Riverside, 1958)
Hank Mobley
Tenor Conclave (Prestige, 1956)
Peckin' Time (Blue Note, 1958)
Roll Call (Blue Note, 1960)
Soul Station (Blue Note, 1960)
Workout (Blue Note, 1961)
Another Workout (Blue Note, 1961)
The Turnaround (Blue Note, 1965)
Thelonious Monk
Brilliant Corners (Riverside, 1956)
Lee Morgan
Lee Morgan Sextet (Blue Note, 1956)
Lee Morgan Vol. 3 (Blue Note, 1957)
City Lights (Blue Note, 1957)
The Cooker (Blue Note, 1957)
Lee-Way (Blue Note, 1960)
Here's Lee Morgan (Vee-Jay, 1960)
Charisma (Blue Note, 1966)
The Rajah (Blue Note, 1966)
Wes Montgomery
Full House (Riverside, 1962)
Smokin' at the Half Note (Verve, 1965)
Willow Weep for Me (Verve, 1969)
Oliver Nelson
The Blues and the Abstract Truth (Impulse!, 1961)
Phineas Newborn, Jr.
A World of Piano (Contemporary, 1961)
Art Pepper
Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section (Contemporary, 1957)
Gettin' Together (Contemporary, 1960)
Bud Powell
Bud! The Amazing Bud Powell (Vol. 3) (Blue Note, 1957)
The Scene Changes: The Amazing Bud Powell (Vol. 5) (Blue Note, 1958)
Ike Quebec
Blue And Sentimental (Blue Note, 1961)
Sonny Red
Out of the Blue (Blue Note, 1960)
Freddie Redd
Shades of Redd (Blue Note, 1960)
Redd's Blues (Blue Note, 1961)
Sonny Rollins
Tenor Madness (Prestige, 1956)
Sonny Rollins: Volume 2 (Blue Note, 1957)
Sound of Sonny (Riverside, 1957)
Louis Smith
Smithville (Blue Note, 1958)
Frank Strozier
Fantastic (Koch Jazz, 1960)
Art Taylor
A.T.'s Delight (Blue Note, 1960)
Clark Terry
Serenade to a Bus Seat (Riverside, 1957)
Kai Winding
The Trombone Sound (Columbia, 1955)
Trombone For 2 (w/J. J. Johnson)(Columbia, 1955)
The Great Kai & J. J. (w/J. J. Johnson)(Impulse!, 1960)
