Charles Fambrough

Charles Fambrough (25 August 1950 – 1 January 2011; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) was an American jazz bassist, composer and record producer, best known for his work as a sideman with some of jazz's most celebrated bandleaders before establishing himself as a leader in his own right.
 

Early Life

Fambrough studied classical piano on scholarship throughout his elementary and high school years before switching to bass at the age of thirteen, drawn to the instrument after hearing bassist Paul Chambers for the first time. He began formal classical bass study in the seventh grade, though he left school in 1968 to work in the pit bands of touring theatrical productions such as You Can't Take It With You and Bye Bye Birdie, while also appearing by day on The Mike Douglas Show, then broadcast from Philadelphia. He attended West Philadelphia High School, where he formed a lifelong friendship with future bassist Stanley Clarke.

Career

Fambrough's professional path began in 1969 in a Philadelphia cover band, Andy Aaron's Mean Machine, alongside a young saxophonist named Grover Washington Jr. The following year, he joined Washington's road band, remaining with him through his rise to prominence on CTI Records until 1974.

He went on to join percussionist Airto Moreira's band, working alongside Flora Purim, before becoming anchor of pianist McCoy Tyner's group in the mid-1970s, appearing on Tyner's albums Focal Point (1976), The Greeting (1978) and Horizon (1979).

In 1980, Fambrough joined Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, playing in a formidable line-up that included a young Wynton Marsalis; when Marsalis departed in 1982 to form his own group, Fambrough followed, appearing on Marsalis's album Fathers and Sons. Over a career spanning more than 150 recording credits, he also performed and recorded with Freddie Hubbard, Shirley Scott, Roland Kirk, Egberto Gismonti, the Fort Apache Band and pianist Kei Akagi, among many others.

In 1991, Fambrough made his debut as a leader with The Proper Angle on CTI Records, the first bassist-led date on the label since Ron Carter's in 1976, featuring Wynton Marsalis, Roy Hargrove, Branford Marsalis, Joe Ford, Kenny Kirkland and Jeff "Tain" Watts. He followed it with a second CTI album as leader, The Charmer (1992), featuring Hargrove, Kenny Garrett, Abdullah Ibrahim and Stephen Scott, and later released Live @ Zanzibar Blue (2002) on Random Chance Records, recorded at the noted Philadelphia jazz club. As a composer, his original works were recorded by artists including Stanley Turrentine and Roy Hargrove, as well as by the Jazz Messengers.

In his later years, Fambrough also worked as a record producer, helping other jazz musicians bring their own recordings to fruition.

Personal Life

Fambrough was married to his wife, Dolores, and was the father of four daughters, Maria, Carla, Andrea and Alycia, and a son, Mark, as well as a grandfather.

In his final years, he battled end-stage renal disease, congestive heart failure and pulmonary hypertension, undergoing dialysis for five years while awaiting a transplant match; the Philadelphia jazz community held several benefit concerts to help him and his family meet the resulting medical costs.

He died on 1 January 2011 of a heart attack at his home in Allentown, Pennsylvania, at the age of 60, with his wife and daughter at his side.

Fambrough is remembered as one of the defining bassists of Philadelphia's jazz scene and as a mentor to younger musicians, including bassist Gerald Veasley, who counted him as both an influence and a friend.