Biography

Joe Chambers has worked with some of the most influential jazz figures of the last several decades and is a recognized perfomer and composer whose works have been performed at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. As a sideman and leader, Chambers has recorded more than 500 albums and CDs. He has performed and recorded with Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, Wayne Shorter, McCoy Tyner, Chick Corea, Sonny Rollins, Herbie Hancock, Dizzy Gillespie, Andrew Hill and many more. Chamber’s credits include Hubbard’s “Breaking Point,” Hutcherson’s “Components,” Shorter’s “Schizophrenia.” and “Etcetera,” Hill’s “Compulsion,” and Tyner’s “Tender Moments,” as well as Archie Shepp’s “New Thing at Newport,” Charles Mingus’ “Like a Bird,” Chick Corea’s “Tones for Joan’s Bones,” and many others. Chambers’ compositions have been covered by Hutcherson, Hubbard and M’Boom; he has also contributed to soundtracks for several Spike Lee films, including “Mo’ Better Blues.” Chambers is the first Thomas S. Kenan Distinguished Professor of Jazz in Department of Music at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. His most recent recording is “Joe Chambers moving pictures orchestra live” of Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola in New York City, Savant 2120, released May 2012 and was nominated for a Grammy in 2013.

Joe Chambers signed with Universal Music Group and Blue Note Records in 2020; new CD release “Samba de Maracatu,” Blue Note Records, February 2021. On February 3, 2023, Joe released “Dance Kobina.”

Here are some recent reviews of Joe Chambers’ work:

JAZZIZ:

https://www.jazziz.com/10-albums-you-need-to-know-february-2023/

NPR MUSIC “ALL SONGS CONSIDERED”:

https://www.npr.org/2023/02/02/1153824722/new-music-friday-the-best-releases-out-on-feb-3

FINANCIAL TIMES:

https://www.ft.com/content/5cedfd6b-dfcb-4110-b066-12a44ca11169?segmentId=776b81d7-dd92-c731-e669-99cdd37d3a96

ALL MUSIC:

https://www.allmusic.com/album/dance-kobina-mw0003884798

ALL ABOUT JAZZ:

https://www.allaboutjazz.com/dance-kobina-joe-chambers-blue-note-records

GLIDE MAGAZINE:

https://glidemagazine.com/288092/joe-chambers-connects-jazz-latin-african-on-vibrant-dance-kobina-album-review/

BIG TAKEOVER:

https://bigtakeover.com/recordings/joe-chambers-dance-kobina-blue-note

UDISCOVER:

https://www.udiscovermusic.com/news/joe-chambers-dance-kobina/

URBAN MUSIC SCENE:

http://news.theurbanmusicscene.com/2022/12/joe-chambers-to-release-new-album-dance-kobina/