Bassist Paul Chambers: "The Paul Chambers Quintet"

Paul Chambers was one of the most recorded and prolific bassists of the mid-50s and 60s. He was still in his teens when he moved from Detroit to New York in 1954 and in 1955 became part of Miles Davis "first great quintet". Chambers was with Davis from 1955 through 1963. He made about half dozen albums under his own name as well as hundreds of sideman appearances. He made 3 for Blue Note and tonight's Feature is the most obscure. It presents a hand picked quintet of great players mostly from Detroit. Trumpeter Donald Byrd is here along with piano master Tommy Flanagan and drummer Elvin Jones, about two years away from joining Coltrane. The ringer is Chicagoan Clifford Jordan on tenor saxophone and he blends with Byrd beautifully. Two great tunes are here written for the date by Benny Golson. Two by Chambers and two good standards. The music is swinging, cohesive and maintains a high level with ease. The Paul Chambers Quintet presents "Mr. P.C." in a good light.