Paul Chambers
Acoustic Bass Solo on
How Deep Is the Ocean?

About

Paul Chambers's acoustic bass solo is the fourth of six solos on "How Deep Is the Ocean?" from the 1956 Tenor Conclave album. He takes one chorus of the 32-bar ABAC form at 55 BPM in E-flat, bringing melodic invention and a warm acoustic tone to Irving Berlin's ballad. The slow tempo provides an exposed setting for Chambers's arco and pizzicato technique, and at just 20 to 21 years old his ballad playing already shows the maturity and musical sensitivity that made him the most recorded bassist of his era.

Paul Chambers was 20 to 21 years old at the time.