Yet another example of a musical talent that rarely, if ever, crosses the Atlantic. Chambers has been singing for around 40 years in Detroit, NYC and, for the last 25 years, in LA and yet this is his first album.
It's quite special, not just because he's dedicated it to his parents, one of whom was the legendary bassist Paul Chambers, as important as this is, but because it reveals a singer who, had he hit the recording scene earlier, may well have been spoken of in the same breath as Mark Murphy and Jon Hendricks.
And, he's not only a singer but a poet. This Mother and My Father are two tracks where this side of his personality is revealed. Meaningful words full of emotion.
Lonely Girl has some plaintive flugel behind the equally sensitive vocal. Pianist Hammack adds to the moment with sympathetic accompaniment.
My Shining Hour is bassist Franklin's shining hour - actually 32 bars - and, in The Way You Look Tonight, Hammack 'keeps that breathless charm' in her solo as, of course does Chambers.
Needless to say My Father is outstanding. The spoken words are emotionally recited over Franklin's bass.
Afro Blue is vocalised Coltrane and again Hammock is on the money, Segal-Garcia makes noises in the background and Chambers has obviously done his homework.
The blurb describes it as an auspicious debut and I ain't arguing. Well worth checking out, it hits the various outlets on March 17. Lance
Work Song; My Favorite Things; The Nearness of You; Dear Ann; This Mother; It's Only a Paper Moon; Lonely Girl; My Shining Hour; The Way You Look Tonight; My Father; Afro Blue.
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