* En anglais uniquement
This trombonist, who had a tone as chewy as alligator sausage, came out of the Louisiana music scene and a background of formal studies at Leland College and the school band at Atlanta, GA's Morehouse College.
Chambers sprung into professional bloom in 1931 with bandleader Neil Montgomery, and the following year was gigging in Nashville with Doc Banks. This engagement was followed by a stint with
Jack Jackson's Pullman Porters, a band, and not a bunch of guys in red hats. The trombonist stayed put in this outfit after the leader wandered off and was replaced by Speed Webb. In 1934,
Chambers played with Zack Whyte and in the middle of this decade became associated with
Al Sears' Band, requiring a move to Kentucky.
Career eyes were focused on New York City, however. A two-year stint with the excellent
Tiny Bradshaw consolidated contacts, then in 1939 the trombonist finally made the move and became a member of the
Chris Columbus Band at the Savoy Ballroom. This lasted through 1940 and then
Chambers was on to a plum job with none other than
Louis Armstrong. From 1943 he was freelancing again, having done well with
Satchmo. He played with
Don Redman,
Sy Oliver,
Lucky Millinder, and
Count Basie. He was still going strong in the '50s, jiving around with
Cab Calloway, swinging with
Doc Cheatham, and dabbling in the music of both
Duke Ellington and
Mercer Ellington. There was also regular studio work and enough big-band jobs to ward off the rock & roll unemployment demons. From 1961 through the end of 1963, he was with
Ray Charles, riding high on the hit parade, then took on heavily grooving periods with
Basie through 1966. A specialty in his final years turned out to be running a rehearsal band with associate
Edgar Battle.
Chambers died of a heart attack on October 19,1967. ~ Eugene Chadbourne