Artist

Paul Chambers

Last updated: 16 hours ago

One of the top bassists of 1955-1965, Paul Chambers was among the first in jazz to take creative bowed solos (other than <a href="spotify:artist:3O2UhWvOcdi6WFCAaY4gNB">Slam Stewart</a>, who hummed along with his bowing). He grew up in Detroit, where he was part of the fertile local jazz scene. After touring with <a href="spotify:artist:79M6Ce0m7LMzZOfy5C27C1">Paul Quinichette</a>, Chambers went to New York, where he played with the <a href="spotify:artist:3hZ5sdhYTvgrmXIwtVwqmS">J.J. Johnson</a>-<a href="spotify:artist:1kYYk4lJ7ZWbyy3zDYOl6h">Kai Winding</a> quintet and <a href="spotify:artist:7wv6bT5ZggxCMvXakPOoh3">George Wallington</a>. He spent the bulk of his prime years (1955-1963) as a member of <a href="spotify:artist:71Ur25Abq58vksqJINpGdx">the Miles Davis Quintet</a>, participating in virtually all of <a href="spotify:artist:71Ur25Abq58vksqJINpGdx">Davis</a>' classic recordings of the era. When he left, "Mr. P.C." (as <a href="spotify:artist:2hGh5VOeeqimQFxqXvfCUf">John Coltrane</a> called him in one of his originals) worked with <a href="spotify:artist:5ncBRFyyylFng7kQJaRXN0">the Wynton Kelly Trio</a> (1963-1966) and freelanced until his death. Chambers, a consistently inspired accompanist who was an excellent soloist, made many recordings during his brief period, including some with <a href="spotify:artist:1VEzN9lxvG6KPR3QQGsebR">Sonny Rollins</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:2hGh5VOeeqimQFxqXvfCUf">Coltrane</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:5v74mT11KGJqadf9sLw4dA">Cannonball Adderley</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:3ZUZYvTkSr7kJQyAXVpqaL">Donald Byrd</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:570vCzcespB48HIQyTbDO6">Bud Powell</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:0fTHKjepK5HWOrb2rkS5Em">Freddie Hubbard</a>, in addition to a few as a leader. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi

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