Dennis Chambers

ABOUT DENNIS CHAMBERS

Ask any musician for a list of the greatest living drummers, and the name Dennis Chambers is sure to be near the top of the list. Innumerable recording and performing credits in the worlds of R&B, jazz, fusion, and rock crowd his résumé, with artists including Parliament/Funkadelic, Santana, Maceo Parker, John Scofield, The Brecker Brothers, John McLaughlin, Steely Dan, George Duke, Kenny Garrett, Stanley Clarke, Mike Stern, and others. He is a rare artist whose astounding technique and speed are balanced by an unshakable groove and finely calibrated musical sensitivity. 

Like many of the most accomplished musicians on their respective instruments, the Baltimore native began early, picking up the drums at age four and playing live at age six. George Clinton recruited Chambers to power the Afro-Futurist funk juggernaut Parliament/Funkadelic in 1978, and the pioneering hip-hop record label Sugar Hill made Chambers their “house drummer” in 1981. From the mid-80s on, the drummer worked extensively with guitarist John Scofield, and became one of the most recorded session musicians in New York, appearing on upwards of 200 records and releasing six albums under his own name.

He recorded and performed extensively with Santana in the 2000s, and performed at SFJAZZ with his Parliament/Funkadelic bandmate Maceo Parker during the 2015-16 Season.