• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Paul Chambers---need info

K

KingCrimson

Oct 6, 2008
438
21
#1
Hey guys I have a Jazz History essay to do on any Jazz artist i wanted to and i chose Paul Chambers. My only problem is, the info that i have got on him so far is not very extensive for an essay. Does anybody have some good info or resources?

I know people like Miles, Jaco, Coltrane etc all have wayyyyy more info on them. But i already know quite a bit about Jaco and I know i will learn a lot about Coltrane and Miles, so i want to learn more about a player i really appreciate but don't know much about. If there is really not so much info on him then i will probably do Mingus or someone else.


Thanks a lot!
 
#2
The March 2009 issue of bass player magazine has a pretty extensive cover article about Paul Chambers. If your town has a decent library, you might find a copy there. Otherwise, check eBay.

Also, there are tons of books on Jazz history, the music, famous players, etc. A couple hours spent browsing titles in a good library or large bookstore might pay off.

Good luck!
 
#3
Also, you might be able to piece together enough from articles that feature Miles, Coltrane, etc. to tell the story about his relationship to them, which was a lot of what his career was built around. Between that and a couple meaty articles about him that talk about his history, background, and early work, that ought to set you up just fine.
 
#4
KingCrimson said:
Hey guys I have a Jazz History essay to do on any Jazz artist i wanted to and i chose Paul Chambers. My only problem is, the info that i have got on him so far is not very extensive for an essay. Does anybody have some good info or resources?

I know people like Miles, Jaco, Coltrane etc all have wayyyyy more info on them. But i already know quite a bit about Jaco and I know i will learn a lot about Coltrane and Miles, so i want to learn more about a player i really appreciate but don't know much about. If there is really not so much info on him then i will probably do Mingus or someone else.


Thanks a lot!
Click to expand...
doing bio's on serious players is a tough one,as it is likely they spent most of their time playing,woodshedding,or on the road.....a better approach might be to examine the time,and the associated hassles of
playing jazz in that era....
 
#6
KingCrimson said:
How do you mean? In general? because i have a specific topic and that is on one player.
Click to expand...
for example in new york city,it was required that musicians have a cabaret license,and the ways the cops could deprive a player of a living arbitrarily....there were segregated venues where headliners were not allowed to stay or even use the front doors.....all kinds of things.....just getting around in america before interstate highways and modern commercial aviation.....it's an interesting study......
 
#7
Assume you have already looked here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Chambers

and here:
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/musician.php?id=12455

...and there are some Downbeat references and such here:
Invalid Link Removed

The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz has some little information and more DownBeat references. But, mostly what you are likely to find is a summary of whom he played with and when.

Let's face it, Paul was a jazz bass player and an African American at a time when not much of the Caucasian US establishment took them seriously. They pretty much lived a life apart. The existing writings explore who they played with, but there isn't a lot of writing about the person involved.

Maybe the cats on the DB Forums might have a bit more esoteric leads for you.

Mr PC was certainly a cat and a killer player; one of my favorites.
 
#8
Jim Campbell said:
for example in new york city,it was required that musicians have a cabaret license,and the ways the cops could deprive a player of a living arbitrarily....there were segregated venues where headliners were not allowed to stay or even use the front doors.....all kinds of things.....just getting around in america before interstate highways and modern commercial aviation.....it's an interesting study......
Click to expand...

That relates more to the scene, and i remember seeing a documentary on Monk where they mention that licence. My teacher wants a bio on a specific player though.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back