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Joe Chambers
Joe Chambers (born June 25, 1942)[1] is an American jazz drummer, pianist, vibraphonist and composer. He attended the Philadelphia Conservatory for one year.[2] In the 1960s and 1970s, Chambers gigged with many high-profile artists such as Eric Dolphy, Charles Mingus, Wayne Shorter, and Chick Corea.[3] During this period, his compositions were featured on some of the albums on which he appeared, such as those with Freddie Hubbard and Bobby Hutcherson.[3] He has released fifteen albums as a bandleader and been a member of several incarnations of Max Roach's M'Boom percussion ensemble.[4] He has also taught, including at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York City, where he leads the Outlaw Band.[5][6][7][8] In 2008, he was hired to be the Thomas S. Kenan Distinguished Professor of Jazz in the Department of Music at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.[9] Personal LifeJoe Chambers was born in Stoneacre, Virginia in 1942.[10] However, Chambers was mostly raised in Chester, Pennsylvania.[11] He attended the Philadelphia Conservatory and American University in Washington, D.C., where he studied composition before moving to New York.[10][11] Chambers lived in Washington, D.C. from 1960 to 1963. The first instrument he played was the piano before he moved on to playing the vibraphone and drums.[12] He is most well known for his work in Freddie Hubbard’s Breaking Point, along with his composed piece, “Mirrors."[10] He is a retired educator and works as a jazz musician, composer, and leader.[11] CareerChambers gained a lot of inspiration from various jazz drummers, such as Max Roach, Philly Joe Jones, and Elvin Jones.[13] Chambers joined Blue Note back in the 1960s, where he was a house percussionist and drummer.[13] He was given the opportunity after moving to New York in 1963, which is when he initially started learning how to play.[12] It was mentioned in an interview that Tony Williams, a drummer, set Chambers up with a recording of “Mirrors,” where he gained exposure that led to him joining Blue Note.[13] His first recording with Blue Note was recorded with Freddie Hubbard in Breaking Point. Chambers’ earliest gigs were recorded during the time of his eighteenth year when he toured with Bobby Lewis and the JFK Quintet.[11] Chambers was mainly working at the Bohemian Caverns, where he spent six nights a week playing gigs.[11] He was recognized by Freddie Hubbard, who motivated him to move to New York City in 1963. He then shifted to playing for Minton’s Playhouse in 1964 alongside Blue Mitchell and Chick Corea.[13] In his late teens, Chambers worked in Washington, D.C. before moving to New York in 1963, where he played with various artists such as Eric Dolphy, Freddie Hubbard, Jimmy Giuffre, and Andrew Hill.[14] In 1974, Chambers set off as a band leader and created a new album, The Almoravid.[10][11] Chambers was an original member of Max Roach’s percussion ensemble that formed in 1970, M’Boom.[10] The group often practiced at Warren Smith’s Studio on West 21st Street in Manhattan to become capable of performing various instruments, which is when Chambers first learned the vibraphone.[12] He was able to play alongside Sonny Rollins, Tommy Flanagan, Charles Mingus, and Art Farmer. Chambers created the Super Jazz Trio with Flanagan and Reggie Workman, a bassist.[13] In the late 1970s, he helped lead a band alongside Larry Young, an organist. In the early 1980s, Chambers collaborated with artists such as Chet Baker and Ray Mantilla. Chamber started his journey as an instructor in 1990 at the New School of Jazz and Contemporary Music in NYC. He later moved to teach at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington.[10] He currently does not teach and is focusing on his career in jazz. It was not until 2021 that he returned to Blue Note and released his album, Samba de Maracatu.[10] He released another album, Dance Kobina, in 2023.[10] AchievementsDuring his time as an educator at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, he was titled the first Thomas S. Kenan Distinguished Professor of Jazz in 2008.[11] DiscographyAs leader
As sidemanWith Franck Amsallem
With Chet Baker
With Donald Byrd
With Chick Corea
With Stanley Cowell
With Miles Davis
With Art Farmer
With Don Friedman
With Jimmy Giuffre
With Joe Henderson
With Andrew Hill
With Freddie Hubbard
With Bobby Hutcherson
With Robin Kenyatta
With Lee Konitz
With Hubert Laws
With Ray Mantilla
With M'Boom
With Charles Mingus
With Grachan Moncur III
With Karl Ratzer
With Sam Rivers
With Jeremy Steig
With Woody Shaw
With Archie Shepp
With Wayne Shorter
With Heiner Stadler
With John Stubblefield
With Ed Summerlin
With The Super Jazz Trio
With Hidefumi Toki
With Charles Tolliver
With McCoy Tyner
With Miroslav Vitous
With Tyrone Washington
With Joe Zawinul
References
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