Dennis Chambers is an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 drummer

Drummer

A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...

 who has recorded and performed with John Scofield

John Scofield

John Scofield , often referred to as "Sco," is an American jazz guitarist and composer, who has played and collaborated with Miles Davis, Dave Liebman, Joe Henderson, Charles Mingus, Joey Defrancesco, Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, Bill Frisell, Pat Martino, Mavis Staples, Phil Lesh, Billy Cobham,...

, George Duke

George Duke

George Duke is a multi-faceted American musician, known as a keyboard pioneer, composer, singer and producer in both jazz and popular mainstream musical genres. He has worked with numerous acclaimed artists as arranger, music director, writer and co-writer, record producer and professor of music...

, Brecker Brothers

Brecker Brothers

The Brecker Brothers was the musical duo of Michael and Randy Brecker , who recorded commercially successful jazz fusion albums together in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. They had a notable hit single with "East River" in 1979...

, Santana

Carlos Santana

Carlos Augusto Alves Santana is a Mexican rock guitarist. Santana became famous in the late 1960s and early 1970s with his band, Santana, which pioneered rock, salsa and jazz fusion...

, Parliament/Funkadelic, John McLaughlin

John McLaughlin (musician)

John McLaughlin , also known as Mahavishnu John McLaughlin, is an English guitarist, bandleader and composer...

, Niacin

Niacin (band)

Niacin is a neo-fusion instrumental trio featuring Billy Sheehan, Dennis Chambers and John Novello. Founded in 1996, the band's name comes from the timbral foundation of the Hammond B3 organ; vitamin B3 is also known as niacin....

, Mike Stern

Mike Stern

Mike Stern is an American jazz guitarist. After playing for a few years with Blood, Sweat & Tears, he landed a gig with Billy Cobham and then broke through with Miles Davis' comeback band from 1981 to 1983, and again in 1985. Since then, he launched a solo career, releasing more than a dozen albums...

, Greg Howe

Greg Howe

Gregory "Greg" Howe is an American guitarist and composer. As an active musician for nearly thirty years, he has released nine studio albums in addition to collaborating with a wide variety of artists.-Recording career:...

, and many others. Despite a lack of formal training, Chambers has become well known among drummers for his technique and speed. Chambers is particularly regarded for his ability to play "in the pocket" but can also stretch very far out of the pocket which is also a hallmark of his technique. Chambers exhibits a powerful style that is technically proficient, yet highly musical and groove-oriented. He can play in a wide variety of musical genres, but is perhaps most notable for his jazz-fusion, funk, and Latin music playing. He is mostly known for his fast hands and triplets on the bass drum. He has helped many young drummers, the most prominent being Tony Royster, Jr.

He has been part of the Maceo Parker live band and is touring with Carlos Santana and makes appearances with his band Niacin.

He plays Pearl drums, Zildjian cymbals, Zildjian sticks,and Evans drumheads.

Chambers began drumming at the age of four years old, and was gigging in Baltimore-area nightclubs by the age of six. In 1978 (at 18 years old) he joined Parliament/Funkadelic, and stayed with them until 1985. In 1986 he joined the John Scofield band. Since then he has played with most of the major figures in jazz fusion

Jazz fusion

Jazz fusion is a musical fusion genre that developed from mixing funk and R&B rhythms and the amplification and electronic effects of rock, complex time signatures derived from non-Western music and extended, typically instrumental compositions with a jazz approach to lengthy group improvisations,...

 music.

On August 26, 2011 Chambers appeared as a featured drummer on the Late Show with David Letterman

Late Show with David Letterman

Late Show with David Letterman is a U.S. late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and is produced by Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated. The show's music director and band-leader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra, is...

's Drum Solo Week II, alongside other such notable players as Tony Royster, Jr., Gavin Harrison

Gavin Harrison

Gavin Harrison is a British drummer and percussionist. He is best known for playing with the British progressive rock band Porcupine Tree which he joined in 2002. As of 2008, he also plays with the band King Crimson....

, Neil Peart

Neil Peart

Neil Ellwood Peart , OC, is a Canadian musician and author. He is the drummer for the rock band Rush.Peart grew up in Port Dalhousie, Ontario . During adolescence, he floated from regional band to regional band in pursuit of a career as a full-time drummer...

 and Stewart Copeland

Stewart Copeland

Stewart Armstrong Copeland is an American musician, best known as the drummer for the band The Police. During the group's extended hiatus from the mid-1980s to 2007, he played in other bands and composed soundtracks...

.

Selected discography

Year	Constellation	Title	Label
1983	P-Funk All Stars P-Funk P-Funk is a shorthand term for the repertoire and performers associated with George Clinton and the Parliament-Funkadelic collective and the distinctive style of funk music they performed...	Live at the Beverly Theater in Hollywood	Westbound
1986	John Scofield John Scofield John Scofield , often referred to as "Sco," is an American jazz guitarist and composer, who has played and collaborated with Miles Davis, Dave Liebman, Joe Henderson, Charles Mingus, Joey Defrancesco, Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, Bill Frisell, Pat Martino, Mavis Staples, Phil Lesh, Billy Cobham,...	Blue Matter	Gramavision
1987	John Scofield	Loud Jazz	Gramavision
1987	John Scofield	Pick Hits Live	Gramavision
1989	Gary Thomas Gary Thomas Gary Thomas is an American jazz saxophonist and flautist from Baltimore, Maryland. He is a member of Jack DeJohnette's Special Edition band and has worked with John McLaughlin, Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, John Scofield, Jim Hall, Dave Holland, Greg Osby, Wayne Shorter, Ravi Coltrane, Cassandra...	By All Means Necessary	JMT
1990	Bill Evans Group (Bill Evans Bill Evans (saxophonist) Bill Evans is an American jazz saxophonist. His father was a classical piano prodigy and until junior high school Evans studied classical clarinet. Early in his studies he was able to hear such artists as Sonny Stitt and Stan Getz live at the Jazz Showcase in Chicago... , Chuck Loeb Chuck Loeb Chuck Loeb is a guitarist who performs numerous styles of music, most notably jazz. Loeb's own solo projects have generally been commercially successful crossover jazz, which has "contemporary" or "smooth" jazz.... , Jim Beard Jim Beard James Arthur Beard is an American jazz pianist and keyboardist, contemporary instrumental composer, arranger and record producer.- Life and career :... , Darryl Jones Darryl Jones Darryl Jones , also known as "The Munch", is an American bass guitarist. Jones began his notable career as a session musician, where he gained the experience and confidence to play with some of the most highly regarded recording artists, in jazz, blues, and rock music... , Dennis Chambers)	Let The Juice Loose (Live at the Blue Note, Tokyo)	Bellaphon
1991	Dennis Chambers	Big City	Glass House
1992	Carl Filipiak Group (Carl Filipiak Carl Filipiak Carl Filipiak is a jazz guitarist located in Baltimore, USA. His jazz mixes some rock and other elements, called "jazz fusion." Filipiak plays in many festivals, including the Kennett Square Microbrew Festival, which featured him in 2005 and venues on the east coast of America; a favorite of his is... , Dennis Chambers, Paul Soroka, Jim Charlsen, Victor Williams, George Gray, Dave Fairall, Rod Daniels)	Right on Time	Geometric Records
1992	Petite Blonde Petite Blonde Petite Blonde is the name of a live jazz collaboration album. It features Victor Bailey on bass, Dennis Chambers on drums, Mitch Forman on keyboards, Chuck Loeb on guitar, and Bill Evans on saxophone . It was recorded live on July 4, 1992 at the Neuwied Jazzfestival and on July 14, 1992 at The...  (Bill Evans Bill Evans (saxophonist) Bill Evans is an American jazz saxophonist. His father was a classical piano prodigy and until junior high school Evans studied classical clarinet. Early in his studies he was able to hear such artists as Sonny Stitt and Stan Getz live at the Jazz Showcase in Chicago... , Chuck Loeb Chuck Loeb Chuck Loeb is a guitarist who performs numerous styles of music, most notably jazz. Loeb's own solo projects have generally been commercially successful crossover jazz, which has "contemporary" or "smooth" jazz.... , Mitch Forman, Victor Bailey, Dennis Chambers)	Live Recording	Lipstick Records
1992	The Return Of The Brecker Brothers Brecker Brothers The Brecker Brothers was the musical duo of Michael and Randy Brecker , who recorded commercially successful jazz fusion albums together in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. They had a notable hit single with "East River" in 1979...	The Return Of The Brecker Brothers	GRP Records
1992	Dennis Chambers	Getting Even	Glass House
1993	Graffiti (Dennis Chambers, Haakon Graf, Gary Grainger, Ulf Wakenius Ulf Wakenius Ulf Wakenius is a Swedish jazz guitarist. Wakenius was a member of the Oscar Peterson quartet from 1997. He was also a member of the Ray Brown trio... )	Good Groove	ESC Records
1994	John McLaughlin John McLaughlin (musician) John McLaughlin , also known as Mahavishnu John McLaughlin, is an English guitarist, bandleader and composer...  & The Free Spirits	Tokio Live	Japan Import
1993	Charles Blenzig (Mike Stern Mike Stern Mike Stern is an American jazz guitarist. After playing for a few years with Blood, Sweat & Tears, he landed a gig with Billy Cobham and then broke through with Miles Davis' comeback band from 1981 to 1983, and again in 1985. Since then, he launched a solo career, releasing more than a dozen albums... , Will Lee Will Lee Will Lee was an American actor best known for playing the store proprietor Mr. Hooper on Sesame Street, from the show's debut in 1969 until his death in 1982.-Early career:... , Alex Foster Alex Foster Alexander Dwight Foster is an American professional ice hockey forward currently playing with HC Sparta Praha of the Czech Extraliga. He is the son of former NHL player Dwight Foster and nephew of former NHL player Wes Jarvis. Prior to advancing to the professional ranks, Foster played both junior... , Dennis Chambers, Manolo Badrena Manolo Badrena Manolo Badrena is a percussionist most noted for his work with Weather Report from 1976 to 1977. He has made contributions to over 100 recordings that span jazz, world music, pop, and Latin music... , Michael Brecker Michael Brecker Michael Leonard Brecker was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Acknowledged as "a quiet, gentle musician widely regarded as the most influential tenor saxophonist since John Coltrane," he has been awarded 15 Grammy Awards as both performer and composer and was inducted into Down Beat Jazz... )	Say what you mean	Big World
1995	Steely Dan Steely Dan Steely Dan is an American rock band; its core members are Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. The band's popularity peaked in the late 1970s, with the release of seven albums blending elements of jazz, rock, funk, R&B, and pop...	Alive in America	Giant
1997	John McLaughlin, Gary Thomas Gary Thomas Gary Thomas is an American jazz saxophonist and flautist from Baltimore, Maryland. He is a member of Jack DeJohnette's Special Edition band and has worked with John McLaughlin, Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, John Scofield, Jim Hall, Dave Holland, Greg Osby, Wayne Shorter, Ravi Coltrane, Cassandra...	The Heart of Things	Verve/Universum
1999	Victor Bailey	Low Blow	ESC Records
2000	John McLaughlin	The Heart Of Things / Live In Paris	Polygram
2001	Brett Garsed Brett Garsed Brett Garsed is an Australian guitar player. He plays with, among others, John Farnham and T. J. Helmerich and is a former member of the band Nelson... , TJ Helmerich, Gary Willis Gary Willis Gary Willis is an American bassist and composer known foremost as the co-founder of the jazz fusion band Tribal Tech. Aside from his work in Tribal Tech, Willis has worked with numerous other jazz musicians including Wayne Shorter, Dennis Chambers, and Allan Holdsworth... , Scott Kinsey Scott Kinsey Scott Kinsey is a keyboardist best known for his work with the jazz fusion group Tribal Tech and for his contributions to soundtracks for major motion pictures, notably Ocean's Eleven and Ocean's Twelve...	Uncle Moe's Space Ranch	Tone Center Records
2002	Dennis Chambers	Outbreak	Esc
2003	Greg Howe Greg Howe Gregory "Greg" Howe is an American guitarist and composer. As an active musician for nearly thirty years, he has released nine studio albums in addition to collaborating with a wide variety of artists.-Recording career:... , Victor Wooten Victor Wooten Victor Lemonte Wooten is an American bass player, composer, author, and producer, and has been the recipient of five Grammy Awards.... , Dennis Chambers	Extraction	Tone Center Records
2003	Bireli Lagrene Biréli Lagrène Biréli Lagrène is a French guitarist and bassist. He came to prominence in the 1980s for his Django Reinhardt-influenced style on the classical guitar, as well as for being a jazz fusion virtuoso on the electric guitar... , Dominique Di Piazza, Dennis Chambers	Front Page	Sunny Side Records
2006	Dennis Chambers	Planet Earth	BHM
2006	Dennis Chambers, Jeff Berlin Jeff Berlin Jeff Berlin is an American jazz, jazz fusion and progressive rock electric bass player.Jeff Berlin's bass playing is somewhat similar to that of Jaco Pastorius, though Berlin plays a fretted bass and has stated his distaste for Jaco imitators.-Early life:Jeff Berlin was born to parents who were... , David Fiuczynsky, T Lavitz T Lavitz Terry "T" Lavitz was an American jazz-rock/fusion keyboardist, composer and producer. He is best known for his work with the Dixie Dregs and Jazz Is Dead.-Biography:Born on April 16, 1956, Lavitz grew up in New Jersey...	Boston T Party	Tone Center
2006	True Spirit John Grant, Victor Williams Dennis Chambers, Najee Najee Jerome Najee Rasheed , known professionally as Najee, is an urban jazz saxophonist and flautist.He attended New England Conservatory of Music in Boston where he studied with George Russell and Jaki Byard.... ,	True Spirit	Indy release
2007	The Carl Filipiak Carl Filipiak Carl Filipiak is a jazz guitarist located in Baltimore, USA. His jazz mixes some rock and other elements, called "jazz fusion." Filipiak plays in many festivals, including the Kennett Square Microbrew Festival, which featured him in 2005 and venues on the east coast of America; a favorite of his is...  Group	I Got Your Mantra	Art of Life Records
2007	Brett Garsed Brett Garsed Brett Garsed is an Australian guitar player. He plays with, among others, John Farnham and T. J. Helmerich and is a former member of the band Nelson... , TJ Helmerich, Gary Willis Gary Willis Gary Willis is an American bassist and composer known foremost as the co-founder of the jazz fusion band Tribal Tech. Aside from his work in Tribal Tech, Willis has worked with numerous other jazz musicians including Wayne Shorter, Dennis Chambers, and Allan Holdsworth... , Scott Kinsey Scott Kinsey Scott Kinsey is a keyboardist best known for his work with the jazz fusion group Tribal Tech and for his contributions to soundtracks for major motion pictures, notably Ocean's Eleven and Ocean's Twelve...	Moe's Town (Uncle Moe's Space Ranch)	Tone Center Records
2008	Paul Hanson	Frolic in the Land of Plenty	Abstract Logix Records
2009	Dean Brown	DBIII:live at the Cotton Club Tokyo	BHM records
2009	Tony Bunn Tony Bunn Robert Anthony Bunn, also known as Tony Bunn, is an American bassist, composer, producer, and writer.His instruments are bass guitar, upright bass, voice, and mind. His styles are jazz, funk, blues, and rock.-Biography :...	Small World	ATP Records Group
2010	Greg Howe Greg Howe Gregory "Greg" Howe is an American guitarist and composer. As an active musician for nearly thirty years, he has released nine studio albums in addition to collaborating with a wide variety of artists.-Recording career:... , Tetsuo Sakurai Tetsuo Sakurai is a Japanese bassist. To date, he has released a total of 37 albums as a member of Casiopea and Jimsaku and solo artist, and has also made 3 bass instructional videos.-History:Tetsuo Sakurai started playing bass when he was 13 years old.... ,Dennis Chambers	Vital World	Abstract Logix Records

External links

• DennisChambers.com
• Drummerworld: Dennis Chambers
• Dennis Chambers Bio, Interview & Video-Workshop on Bonedo.de (text-German/video-English)