GVLJazz Underground | Shannon Hoover: Tribute to Paul Chambers

Bassist, bandleader, and educator Shannon Hoover leads a quartet paying tribute to the great bassist Paul Chambers.
About this Event

Bassist, bandleader, and educator Shannon Hoover leads a quartet paying tribute to the great bassist Paul Chambers in a "three-for-one" paying tribute to the great bassist Paul Chambers as well as the two centennial jazz masters - namely Miles Davis and John Coltrane - he is most closely associated with.

When Miles Davis formed what is known as his “First Great Quintet”, he chose 20 year old Paul Chambers to play bass…and he played on over 15 albums with Miles Davis.  Fellow Davis sideman John Coltrane then had Paul Chambers on for another 12 albums with him.  

So when Greenville Jazz Collective Musical Director Shannon Hoover realized that this was the centenary year of the 1926 births of both Miles Davis and John Coltrane, it seemed to be a fantastic opportunity to feature a tribute to the great Paul Chambers, and to share his music and his story with the Greenville community in a Jazz Underground tribute.

The first Jazz bass great Shannon Hoover encountered was Paul Chambers playing on the epochal recording by John Coltrane, Giant Steps.  What made an immediate impression on him was Paul’s exceptional technique and bass lines that were truly melodic.  So Paul was an early and immediate influence on Shannon.

Like Shannon, Paul first studied classical bass, developing his fundamental techniques at the famed Cass High School in Detroit (responsible for training dozens of jazz greats).  Like many young Detroit jazz performers, he moved to New York and quickly played with many leading jazz musicians resulting in the invitation from Miles. Both during and after his time with Miles he recorded constantly with many jazz greats, most notably with John Coltrane.  Closer to his death at age 33, he recorded most frequently with fellow Miles Davis alumnus Wynton Kelly.

So what will you hear at the Coffee Underground on October 13?  Yes, you’ll hear some of the great music he recorded with Miles and with John Coltrane.  But you’ll also hear some of his originals (did we mention Paul recorded 10 albums under his own name) and music from other important recording sessions he did.  Joining Shannon will be Peter Dimery on tenor sax, Joe Davidian on piano, and Brandon Blackburn on drums.