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DENNIS CHAMBERS

Jazz Rock/Fusion • United States


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Dennis Chambers picture
Dennis Chambers biography
In May 9, 1959, Dennis Chambers entered this world and started his trip toward becoming a drummer amongst drummers. He started drumming at the age of 4 and played his first gigs in Baltimore nightclubs two years later. Despite his talent, or maybe because of it, he never received any formal musical training, but still developed into a drummer that is known for his technique and speed - especially amongst his colleagues.
At the age of 18, he joined Parliament/Funkadelic (also known as P-Funk), the funk collective around singer/songwriter/keyboardist George Clinton.
After 7 years, in 1985, he left P-funk to join Special EFX, but seemingly never recorded an album with them. In 1987, he joined the David Sanborn Band and the John Scofield band. With the latter he recorded a number of albums until 1989 and got more and more involved in his favorite music, jazz fusion.
After 1989 he played with many bands and band leaders, including amongst other Stanley Clark, Bill Evans and George Duke and made appearances on albums of Jeff Berlin, Gary Thomas, Billy Sheehan and many others.

Between 1991 and 2010 he recorded 11 albums under his own name, with varying line ups of great jazz fusion and rock musicians, with 2002's Outbreak as the possible highlight, featuring Tribal Tech's Gary Willis on fretless bass.

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DENNIS CHAMBERS discography


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DENNIS CHAMBERS top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.92 | 3 ratings
Getting Even
1998
3.06 | 6 ratings
Outbreak
2002
3.67 | 3 ratings
Planet Earth
2006

DENNIS CHAMBERS Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

DENNIS CHAMBERS Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

DENNIS CHAMBERS Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

DENNIS CHAMBERS Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

5.00 | 1 ratings
Big City
1991

DENNIS CHAMBERS Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 Outbreak by CHAMBERS, DENNIS album cover Studio Album, 2002
3.06 | 6 ratings

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Outbreak
Dennis Chambers Jazz Rock/Fusion

Review by Mellotron Storm
Prog Reviewer

3 stars A large cast of musicians were there to help out drummer Dennis Chambers on this 2002 release. I'm not big on that album cover but the music is quite good. I counted 17 musicians including multiple bass, guitar and horn players. We get a keyboardist and a lot of electric piano thankfully. The Brecker brothers are here on horns along with TRIBAL TECH's bass player Gary Willis. John Scofield is one of the guitarists and man what a talent. There's a fair amount of Funk on here but otherwise Jazz Fusion is what I'm hearing.

It doesn't start well with "Roll Call" mainly because of the blasting horns and I'm sure it's those brothers. "Paris On Mine" is kind of jerky with horns over top. It settles back when we get a guitar solo after 2 minutes. I'm not big into the horns on "In Time". What I do like is "Otay" and there's no horns. The bass and drums are outstanding to open the song and how about the electric piano late. Also "Groovus Interrupus" while funky and with horns over top, I still like. "Plan B" is funky while "Baltimore, DC" is just one cool sounding tune. The title track is the longest by far at almost 11 minutes and quite varied. I like it.

Another impressive album as far as performances go but I have some issues with the horns at times and the style of music. 3.5 stars.

 Outbreak by CHAMBERS, DENNIS album cover Studio Album, 2002
3.06 | 6 ratings

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Outbreak
Dennis Chambers Jazz Rock/Fusion

Review by Anon-E-Mouse

3 stars Further to my previous opinion on Chambers' previous release, there is very little I can add here without scratching my head really hard. The same typical American Fusion laced with Funk approach still dominates, where the Funk flavour - however dated it may be by now - is almost a welcome relief.

I thoroughly appreciate Chambers as one of the finest drummers around, but as a leader/composer/arranger he fails to excite. This work comes across as sterile but with clinical precision that no-one could fault - while few would likely to find enjoyable - let alone uplifting.

Quirky Funk reminiscent of Miles Davis "Tutu", or "Doo-Wop" period as if supported by The Brecker Brothers come to mind when I listen to this release, leaving me rather underwhelmed. (MD is gone while TBB are featured here.)

Chambers has been featured as equal part of numerous different collectives on the side of being a fantastic support artist to many big names. Those albums known to me appear far superior when compared with his releases under his own name. On his own as a leader he represents the weakest material known to me. Sadly, I can't offer this piece more than a rating of 3. Predictable, sterile and boring.

 Getting Even by CHAMBERS, DENNIS album cover Studio Album, 1998
3.92 | 3 ratings

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Getting Even
Dennis Chambers Jazz Rock/Fusion

Review by Anon-E-Mouse

4 stars Chambers is a largely self-taught American Jazz drummer. His mightily powerful and heavy approach to the skins is almost one-of-a-kind. Drawing comparisons between him and Billy Cobham would be tempting, but rather erroneous as they are not really alike at all. To my ears the only similarity appears to be that both had excelled when in the employ of others, whereas their solo efforts appear to be somewhat less memorable - albeit not bad at all.

This album sports a stellar cast who play well with a professional approach expected of them. The music is very American Fusion with a slight funky edge at times. In it's genre it is rather typical with few highs, or lows. Pretty standard Fusion, something I find less engaging than the British approach of more Rock, Blues oriented Jazz-Rock. Still, American Fusion fans will find this work a very pleasing experience.

I have a couple of instructional videos by Chambers and to date, those jaw-dropping demonstrations remain far superior to this work on the scales of enjoyment.

Thanks to angelo for the artist addition.

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