Paul Chambers
Acoustic Bass
About
Paul Chambers was one of the top jazz bassists of his era and among the first to take bowed solos. At the age of 20 he joined Miles Davis' first quintet where he spent the bulk of his career (1955-1963). After leaving the quintet he worked with the Wynton Kelly Trio until 1966. Chambers recorded several albums as a band leader and was an in demand freelance musician working with John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, Sonny Rollins, and Bud Powell among others. He died of tuberculosis at the age of 33 in 1969.
Trivia
Chambers also played the baritone horn and tuba.John Coltrane wrote the song "Mr. P.C." on Giant Steps for Paul Chambers.Paul Chambers played on both Coltrane's Giant Steps and Miles Davis' Kind of Blue , two of the most important albums in jazz history.
Early Life
Paul Chambers was born in Pittsburgh in 1935 and grew up in Detroit. In 1952 he began taking bass lessons with the bassist from the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and did some classical playing in addition to being part of the jazz scene around Detroit. After touring with Paul Quinichette he moved to New York and soon after joined Miles Davis' quintet.
Paul Chambers Solos
1961
Acoustic Bass solo - Pfrancing (No Blues) - 1961
4/4 swing in F major at 136 BPM
Acoustic Bass solo - Teenie's Blues - 1961
4/4 swing in F major at 135 BPM
1960
Acoustic Bass solo - Remember - 1960
4/4 swing in A♭ major at 169 BPM
Acoustic Bass solo - Soul Station - 1960
4/4 swing in E♭ major at 101 BPM
1959
Acoustic Bass solo - Freddie Freeloader - 1959
4/4 swing in B♭ major at 130 BPM
Acoustic Bass solo - Cousin Mary - 1959
4/4 swing in A♭ major at 223 BPM
Acoustic Bass solo - Spiral - 1959
4/4 swing in B minor at 182 BPM
Acoustic Bass solo - Syeeda's Song Flute - 1959
4/4 swing in G major at 186 BPM
Acoustic Bass solo - Little Old Lady - 1959
4/4 swing in E♭ major at 188 BPM
Acoustic Bass solo - Like Sonny - 1959
4/4 swing in E♭ major at 146 BPM
Acoustic Bass solo - Like Sonny - 1959
4/4 swing in E♭ major at 147 BPM
Acoustic Bass solo - Like Sonny - 1959
4/4 swing in E♭ major at 132 BPM
1958
Acoustic Bass solo - Freight Trane - 1958
4/4 swing in A♭ major at 234 BPM
Acoustic Bass solo - I Never Knew - 1958
4/4 swing in A♭ major at 213 BPM
Acoustic Bass solo - Big Paul - 1958
4/4 swing in C major at 130 BPM
Acoustic Bass solo - My Funny Valentine - 1958
4/4 ballad in C minor at 48 BPM
Acoustic Bass solo - Good Bait - 1958
4/4 swing in B♭ major at 126 BPM
Acoustic Bass solo - I Want to Talk About You - 1958
4/4 ballad in E♭ major at 66 BPM
Acoustic Bass solo - You Say You Care - 1958
4/4 swing in F major at 215 BPM
1957
Acoustic Bass solo - Blue Trane - 1957
4/4 swing in E♭ major at 130 BPM
Acoustic Bass solo - Moment's Notice - 1957
4/4 swing in E♭ major at 246 BPM
Acoustic Bass solo - Lazy Bird - 1957
4/4 swing in G major at 254 BPM
Acoustic Bass solo - All The Things You Are - 1957
4/4 swing in A♭ major at 196 BPM
Acoustic Bass solo - Smoke Stack - 1957
4/4 swing in F major at 233 BPM
Acoustic Bass solo - Time Was - 1957
4/4 swing in A♭ major at 182 BPM
Acoustic Bass solo - Minor Run-Down - 1957
4/4 swing in C minor at 182 BPM
Acoustic Bass solo - The Hand of Love - 1957
4/4 swing in G major at 189 BPM
Acoustic Bass solo - Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise - 1957
4/4 swing in C minor at 170 BPM
Acoustic Bass solo - Four Strings - 1957
4/4 swing in B♭ major at 212 BPM
Acoustic Bass solo - What's New - 1957
4/4 swing in C major at 149 BPM
Acoustic Bass solo - Beauteous - 1957
4/4 swing in B♭ major at 175 BPM
Acoustic Bass solo - Four Strings - 1957
4/4 swing in B♭ major at 210 BPM
1956
Acoustic Bass solo - Blues by Five - 1956
4/4 swing in B♭ major at 176 BPM
Acoustic Bass solo - The Theme - 1956
4/4 swing in B♭ major at 139 BPM
Acoustic Bass solo - Trane's Blues - 1956
4/4 swing in B♭ major at 159 BPM
Acoustic Bass solo - Ahmad's Blues - 1956
4/4 swing in B♭ major at 115 BPM
Acoustic Bass solo - Well, You Needn't - 1956
4/4 swing in F major at 240 BPM
Acoustic Bass solo - Tenor Madness - 1956
4/4 swing in B♭ major at 175 BPM
Acoustic Bass solo - When Your Lover Has Gone - 1956
4/4 swing in E♭ major at 109 BPM
Acoustic Bass solo - Paul's Pal - 1956
4/4 swing in G major at 155 BPM
Acoustic Bass solo - My Reverie - 1956
4/4 swing in C major at 96 BPM
Acoustic Bass solo - The Most Beautiful Girl in the World - 1956
4/4 swing in A♭ major at 232 BPM
Acoustic Bass solo - Tenor Conclave - 1956
4/4 swing in B♭ major at 256 BPM
Acoustic Bass solo - Bob's Boys - 1956
4/4 swing in F major at 201 BPM
Acoustic Bass solo - How Deep Is the Ocean? - 1956
4/4 ballad in E♭ major at 55 BPM
Acoustic Bass solo - Dexterity - 1956
4/4 swing in F major at 176 BPM
Acoustic Bass solo - Stablemates - 1956
4/4 swing in D♭ major at 201 BPM
Acoustic Bass solo - Easy to Love - 1956
4/4 swing in C major at 183 BPM
Acoustic Bass solo - Visitation - 1956
4/4 swing in F major at 163 BPM
Acoustic Bass solo - John Paul Jones - 1956
4/4 swing in B♭ major at 114 BPM