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Charles Fambrough

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Charles Fambrough
Born(1950-08-25)August 25, 1950
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedJanuary 1, 2011(2011-01-01) (aged 60)
GenreJazz
Occupations
  • Musician
  • composer
  • record producer
InstrumentBass
Years active1960s–2011
Labels
Formerly of

Charles Fambrough (August 25, 1950 – January 1, 2011)[1] was an American jazz bassist, composer, and record producer[2] from Philadelphia.[3]

Having played together in a previous cover band, Fambrough joined Grover Washington Jr.'s band in 1970. Five years later, he transferred to Airto Moreira's band. After two years with Moreira, he joined up with McCoy Tyner to become anchor of Tyner's band, until 1982, when he joined Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers whom with he performed during the early 1980s. When trumpeter Wynton Marsalis left the Jazz Messengers to form his own band, Fambrough followed him.[4][5][6][7]

In the liner notes of his 1991 album The Proper Angle, Fambrough mentions the lessons he learned from McCoy Tyner and Art Blakey. The latter taught him to play behind a horn player and within a rhythm section.

Suffering from kidney failure, congestive heart failure, and pulmonary hypertension, he died on January 1, 2011, at the age of 60.[8]

Discography

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As leader

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Release year Album Personnel Label
1991 The Proper Angle Steve Berrios, Mini Cinelu, Joe Ford, Jerry González, Roy Hargrove, Kenny Kirkland, Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Jeff "Tain" Watts CTI[9]
1992 The Charmer Roy Hargrove, Kenny Garrett, Abdullah Ibrahim, Stephen Scott, Billy Drummond CTI
1993 Blues at Bradley's Donald Harrison, Joe Ford, Steve Turre, Bill O'Connell, Bobby Broom, Ricky Sebastian, Steve Berrios CTI
1995 City Tribes Craig Handy, John Swana, Bill O'Connell, Ricky Sebsastian, Marlon Simon, Cafe, Dave Valentin Evidence
1994 Keeper of the Spirit John Swana, Ralph Bowen, Grover Washington Jr. AudioQuest[10]
1996 Impressions of Jazz Eric Mintel Jazz Lions
1997 Upright Citizen Grover Washington Jr., Gerald Albright, George Duke, Alex Bugnon, Jon Lucien NuGroove
2002 Live at Zansibar Blue Bill O'Connell, Joe Ford, Sean Jones, Wilby Fletcher, Lenny White, Roland Guerrero Random Chance
2003 StoneJazz Mark Kramer, Lenny White, Mulgrew Miller, Steve Johns, Ralph Peterson, George Colligan LightYear

As sideman

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With Kei Akagi

  • Mirror Puzzle (1994)[11]

With Art Blakey

With Craig Handy

With Roy Hargrove

With Wynton Marsalis

With Eric Mintel

  • Impressions of Jazz (Jazz Lions, 1996)

With Pharoah Sanders

With McCoy Tyner

With Roland Kirk

References

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  1. ↑ "Jassed.com". Archived from the original on July 13, 2011.
  2. ↑ Karl Stark, "Musician Refashions Career As A Producer He Helps Others Record Their Jazz", Philly.com, August 27, 1995.
  3. ↑ "Charles Fambrough | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  4. ↑ "Jazz Messengers Alumni | Art Blakey". Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  5. ↑ Johnson, David. "Late Art: Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers In The 1980s". Night Lights Classic Jazz - Indiana Public Media. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Charles Fambrough | Biography, Albums, Streaming Links". AllMusic. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Jazz Bassist Charles Fambrough Dies". jazztimes.com. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
  8. ↑ Mergner, Lee. "Jazz Bassist Charles Fambrough Dies". JazzTimes.
  9. ↑ "Charles Fambrough - The Proper Angle". discogs.com. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Charles Fambrough - Keeper of the Spirit". Valley-entertainment.com. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Kei Akagi - Mirror Puzzle". Valley-entertainment.com. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
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