Paul Chambers

He was also known for his bowed solos. Chambers recorded about a dozen albums as a leader or co-leader, and more than 100 as a sideman, especially as the anchor of trumpeter Miles Davis's "first great quintet" (1955–63) and with pianist Wynton Kelly (1963–68).

• Name — Paul Chambers • Birth Name — Paul Laurence Dunbar Chambers Jr. • Born — 22 April 1935 • Birthplace — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. • Origin — Detroit, Michigan, U.S. • Died — 4 January 1969 • Place of death — New York City, U.S. • Instrument — Double bass • Genre — * Jazz • modal jazz • bebop • hard bop • Occupation — * Musician • composer • Years Active — 1954–1969 • Label — * Blue Note • Prestige • Verve • Riverside

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on April 22, 1935, to Paul Lawrence Chambers and Margaret Echos, he was brought up in Detroit, Michigan, following the death of his mother. He began playing music with several of his schoolmates on the baritone horn. 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 switched to the double bass around 1949. His formal bass training began in earnest in 1952, when he began taking private lessons with Gaston Brohan, principal bassist of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Chambers did some classical playing himself, with a rehearsal group called the Detroit String Band. He studied at Cass Technical High School intermittently from 1952 to 1955, and played in Cass' symphony, and in various other student groups, in one of which he played baritone saxophone. When he left for New York City at the invitation of tenor saxophonist Paul Quinichette, he had a working knowledge of many instruments. Jazz bass players were largely limited to timekeeping 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 years old 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.

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, Chambers joined the Miles Davis quintet, and he was awarded the DownBeat "New Star Award" the following year. Chambers stayed with the group until 1963, and he appeared on many classic albums, including Kind of Blue (1959). One of Chambers' most noted performances was on that album's first track, "So What", which opens with a brief duet featuring Chambers and pianist Bill Evans. From 1963 until 1966, Chambers played with Wynton Kelly's trio. He freelanced frequently as a sideman for many others throughout his career.

Chambers developed addictions to both alcohol and heroin. He was hospitalized at the end of 1968 with what was thought to be a severe case of influenza, but tests revealed that he had tuberculosis. As his organ functions deteriorated, Chambers lapsed into a coma for 18 days. It is believed his addictions to heroin and alcohol contributed to his health problems. On January 4, 1969, he died of tuberculosis at the age of 33.