Chambers

• Genres: Jazz
• Instrument: Trumpet, Clarinet, Trombone

Biography

Born near the close of the 19th century in New Jersey, Elmer Chambers became one of the first generation of significant jazz trumpet players. His career found him most often playing alongside the sheer geniuses of the music, most notably Fletcher Henderson and Louis Armstrong. He began thinking about music as a profession while playing in a marching band in World War I. He met the man who would become his first employer in just such an outfit. That was Sam Wooding, a pianist and arranger who would enjoy popularity as a bandleader in the '20s. Chambers worked in cities such as Atlantic City, Detroit, and New York City before jumping to the much more creative Fletcher Henderson outfit in 1923. Henderson heavily utilized the trumpeter as a soloist and he is featured on the small band recordings from 1923-1924 as well as Henderson orchestras from 1924-1925. He was often called to accompany blues singers, and performed and recorded with Alberta Hunter, Rosa Henderson, Clara Smith, and Ida Cox. Classy company? No doubt, and before retiring from playing, the man would continue consorting with top-flight players. He worked in the extended groups of Louis Armstrong, and no greater honor could be extended to a brass player than to be called into service by Satch, who practically invented the idea of a trumpet solo. Chambers shows up on Armstrong's Decca and Verve collections, and was present on the former label's all-star 1925 Paramount date that among many sides produced the classic "I Miss My Swiss," which is without question the finest piece of music ever written about a laxative. (For more information, consult any Satchmo biography.) The musicians on this session are typical of the crowd Chambers was running with, such as tenor saxophonist Coleman Hawkins, who had also played with him in Henderson's band, Don Redman, Buster Bailey, and Joe Smith. Chambers was also a member of Billy Fowler's band in 1926-1927. In the later part of his career, he also began taking more low-profile work as a member of pit bands playing behind touring shows. He also performed with Fats Waller, Sidney Bechet, and June Cole. The performance of his that is most often chosen to represent his talents or a career highlight is his soloing on the 1923 Paramount Cox song "Gulf Coast Blues." ~ Eugene Chadbourne, All Music Guide

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