Paul Laurence Dunbar Chambers,
Jr. (April 22, 1935 – January 4, 1969) was a jazz double bassist. A fixture of
rhythm sections during the 1950s and 1960s, his importance in the development
of jazz bass can be measured not only by the extent of his work in this short
period, but also by his impeccable timekeeping and intonation, and virtuosic
improvisations.
He was born in Pittsburgh and brought
up in Detroit following the death of his mother. During the course of his
lifetime 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 in fact had tuberculosis. As his organ
functions deteriorated, Chambers lapsed into a coma for 18 days. It is believed
that his addictions to heroin and alcohol contributed to his health problems.
On January 4, 1969 he died of tuberculosis aged 33
From his role in the Davis band,
Chambers was the bassist in two rhythm sections. The first, with Red Garland on
piano and Philly Joe Jones on drums, came to be known as "the rhythm
section," that name featured on a celebrated album by saxophonist Art
Pepper, Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section. The second, with Wynton Kelly and
Jimmy Cobb, made many sessions as a unit, recording albums with John Coltrane,
Wes Montgomery, and by themselves under Kelly's name on albums such as Kelly
Blue.