Linc Chamberland

Linc Chamberland
Birth name Lionel Victor Chamberland
Born (1940-09-13)September 13, 1940
Norwalk, Connecticut
Died June 24, 1987(1987-06-24) (aged 46)
New York City
Genres Rock, jazz, jazz fusion
Occupation(s) Jazz guitarist
Music educator
Instruments Guitar
Years active 1961–mid 1980s
Labels Roulette Records
Muse Records
Mainstream Records
A&M Horizon
Associated acts Linc Chamberland
Gotham
Dave Liebman
Website Tribute site
Notable instruments
Fender Telecaster

Linc Chamberland (né Lionel Victor Chamberland; September 13, 1940 Norwalk, Connecticut – June 24, 1987 New York City) was an American jazz guitarist based in Connecticut who, after playing in the 1960s with The Orchids, shunned touring and thereafter subsisted by teaching privately and playing locally near Norwalk, Connecticut. Published critical acclaim by industry professionals, fans, and virtuoso jazz musicians rank Chamberland as legendary. Tommy Mottola, who, among other things, headed Sony Entertainment, called Chamberland "One of the greatest guitarist of all time." "You never heard anything like Linc."[1][2]

Chamberland sometimes spelled his nickname "Link" and some published references incorrectly spelled his last name "Chamberlain."

Musical groups

In the mid 1960s, Chamberland was the leader of an R&B band called "The Orchids."[1] His objection to touring was the result of bad experiences while touring with The Orchids.

In 1971, musicians formed a hornband called "Sawbuck," whose members included Schuyler "Sky" I. Ford (1947–2001) (vocals), Frank Vicari (who replaced Dave Liebman) and Pee Wee Ellis (saxes), John Eckert and John Gatchell (trumpets), Chris Qualles (bass), Linc Chamberland (guitar), and Jimmy Strassburg (drums).[3] The band cut a record in 1972 with Motown under its new name, "Gotham."[4] Other names of the band included "Gasmask" and "The New York Street Band."[5]

Instruments

1960s with The Orchids

Chamberland played a 1953 Fender Telecaster. In his search to get exactly the sound he wanted from the guitar, Chamberland modified it. From the top down, the guitar had Grover heads, a 1957 Stratocaster neck, Humbucker pick-ups, and a Gibson bridge and tailpiece. The bottom portion of the body was milled out to fit these last two things. Chamberland also modified the internal wiring. He had his bridge set abnormally high, raising the strings far off the fingerboard. This gave him his very distinctive clean tone, an example of which can be heard in his playing on Cat's Meow. The raised bridge required additional finger strength, particularly on high notes. In its original version, the Telecaster had the stock Fender bridge and tailpiece. In order to get the height on the strings that he wanted, Chamberland stuck popsicle sticks under the bridge to raise it higher.[5]

According to Tommy Mottola, other guitarist couldn't play Chamberland's Telly because of the way Chamberland tricked it out. He also replaced the E-String, the bottom one, with a banjo A-string that he bent to almost the top of his Telecaster. Mottola says that there was no way to bend a guitar string like that because of the tautness. But the banjo string was so thin that it allowed Chamberland to create his signature R&B style.[1]

“ Nobody, Nobody, Nobody had a sound like Linc's. ”
— Tommy Mottola[1]

The Telecaster is currently owned by Bob Maclauglin, one of Chamberland last two students.[5]

Beginning 1975, Linc's jazz era

IN 1975, fed-up that R&B had gone pop, Chamberland purchased a 1960s Gibson L-5 from Arthur Betker (1950–2009) and performed on it for his two jazz albums for Muse Records. The L-5 is now owned by guitarist Paul Sullivan, Chamberland's student during the late 1970s. Sullivan is a guitarist and music educator in Brooklyn.[5]

Selected discography

As member of The Orchids
Link (sic) Chamberland (lead guitar), George Maxim (rhythm guitar), Tommy Davis (electric bass), Jim Hungaski (né James Hungaski; born 1941) & Jack Hungaski (né John L. Hungaski; 1941–2006) (tenor saxophone) and Raymond D. Pennucci (born 1942) (drums)
Note: Trudeau was the stage name for Hungaski, Jack and Jim were twins
  1. "Good Time Stomp"
  2. "One Mint Julep"
  3. "Night Train"
  4. "Pony Walk"
  5. "Good Gully"
  6. "Back Woods" (Chamberland, standout guitar solo)
  7. "The Hucklebuck"
  8. "Last Night"
  9. "Loco Twist"
  10. "Slow Walk"
  11. "Twistin' 'Round the Table"
  12. "La Paloma Twist"
  • Demo album (rare LP), self funded (1964)
Added musicians: Al DelMonte (trumpet); Frank Salvo (bari sax); Bobby Lindsay (lead vocal)
All arrangements by Chamberland
  1. "More Soul"
  2. "Fingerpoppin'," composed by Chamberland
  3. "One Mint Julep"
  4. "Heartbreak"
  5. "You Are My Sunshine"
  6. "You're the One I Adore"
  7. "Have You Ever Had the Blues?"
  8. "I Got My Mojo Working"
  9. "Move On Down The Line"
  10. "Orchids' Break Song" — a medley drawn from "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?," "Think," "Twistin' Round the Table," and "Theme from Peter Gunn"
  • Bobby Lindsay and The Orchids, 45 rpm single, Rotate Records (April 1965)
Produced by C&D Productions
Rotate and C&D were divisions of Fedro Entertainment Corp.
Added musician: Vic Serman (tenor sax)
A side: "Freedom's Band" (catalog: 45–5007–A), composed by C. Arrington, arranged by Dee Ervin, Heavyweight Pub. Co. (BMI) RR-836
B side: "The Cat's Meow" (catalog: 45–5007–B), arranged by Chamberland, Heavyweight Pub. Co. (BMI) RR-837
As leader
Linc Chamberland (guitar), David Liebman (tenor & soprano sax), Lyn Christie (bass), Bob Leonard (né Robert J. Leonard; born 1954) (drums)
Recorded at Dimensional Sound, Inc. (1962–1997), 300 W 55th Street, New York City, June 16 & 17, 1976, Edward Chalpin (born 1935) (owner)
Album notes: James B. Motavalli (born 1952)
Audio enginieer: Skip Juried (né Michael M. Juried, Jr.; born 1944)
  1. "Indeed" on YouTube
  2. "Stella by Starlight" on YouTube
  3. "Mah-Jong" on YouTube
  4. "What's new?" on YouTube (Liebman is not on this cut)
  5. "A Place Within" on YouTube
  6. "1957" on YouTube
  7. "Three Thing"
Linc Chamberland (guitar), David Friesen (bass), Gary G. Hobbs (born 1948) (drums)
Recorded in New York, April 17, 1981
  1. "I hear a Rhapsody" on YouTube
  2. "Virgo"
  3. "Have You Met Miss Jones?"
  4. "Footprints"
  5. "Yet to Come" (Linc Chamberland only with overdubbed guitar parts)
  6. "Autumn Leaves" (Linc Chamberland only with overdubbed guitar parts)
As band member
As sideman
Ray Copeland, Lloyd Michaels, Joe Newman, Snooky Young (trumpets); Dave Bargeron, John Gordon, Jack Jeffers (born 1928), Benny Powell, J. William (Billy) VerPlanck (1930–2009) (trombones); Hubert Laws, Billy Mitchell, Joe Temperley, Chris Woods (saxes); Frank Owens (piano); Arthur Bitker (guitar), Billy Butler (guitar), Lionel Chamberland, David Spinozza (guitar); Chuck Rainey (bass); Grady Tate (drums); Ernie Wilkins (director & arranger)
Recorded in New York, early 1970s
Chamberland (guitar & horn arrangements)
David Liebman (tenor & soprano sax, flute, electric piano, percussion) Pee Wee Ellis (tenor & soprano sax, electric piano, percussion), Richie Beirach (piano), Chris Hayes (electric guitar), Tony Saunders (electric bass), Jimmy Strassburg (drums, percussion),[3] Harold Ivory Williams (synthesizer, track 3), Linc Chamberland (electric guitar, track 1), Jeff Berlin (electric bass, track 3), Al Foster (drums, track 3), Gerald "Sonny" Brown (percussion, track 4), Jumma Santos (congas, track 1), Leon Thomas (vocal)
Recorded in Sausalito, California, May 1976, and New York, September 1976
  1. "Light'n up please" (Chamberland plays on this track only)

Former students

Chamberland's students included:

Family

Linc Chamberland's son, Scott L. Chamberland (born 1961) is a saxophonist and, in 2012, became the owner of New Milford Music Center, Inc., in New Milford, Connecticut.

References

References for former students
  1. 1 2 Fred Asken's websites
        www.askenguitars.com
        www.frenasken.com
  2. ↑ Todd Baharian's bio at Hillwood Music's website
        www.hillwoodmusic.com
  3. ↑ The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz, by Leonard Feather & Ira Gitler, Oxford University Press (1999) OCLC 38746731
  4. ↑ Jack Broad's bio at Grosh Guitar's website
        groshguitars.com/artists/artist-profiles/jack-broad/
  5. 1 2 "Mel Bay Presents John Stowell Jazz Guitar Mastery," by John Stowell, transcribed by Chris Ullrich, pg. 38 OCLC 226844029, 71716501 and 790149863
  6. ↑ Tim DeHuff's website
        www.timdehuff.com
  7. ↑ Rich Dixon's bio at Snow College's website
        www.snow.edu/music/RichDixon.htm
  8. ↑ Kate O'Brien's website
        www.obrienstrings.com
  9. ↑ Guitar Arpeggio Encyclopedia, by Andy Martin, Mel Bay (2003), pg. 240; OCLC 52612017
  10. ↑ Tony Sarno's website
        www.tonysarno.com
  11. ↑ Peter Snell's bio at Ribbecke Guitar Corporation's website
        www.rgcguitars.com/snell.html
  12. ↑ Todd Strait's website
        toddstraitdrums.com
  13. ↑ Paul Sullivan's website
        www.paulsullivan.com
  14. ↑ Gerry Tyler's website
        myspace.com/matthew24powerrocktrio
  15. ↑ Owen Yost's website
        owenyost.com

––––––––––––––––––––

General references
  1. 1 2 3 4 Hitmaker: The Man and His Music, by Tommy Mottola, Grand Central Publishing (2012) OCLC 828737413 and 707964512
  2. ↑ "Missing Linc: An Open Letter to My Great Mentor," by Mark Hermann, Rock and Roll Zen, December 9, 1913
  3. 1 2 James Strassburg biography: Who's Who in Rock Music, by William York, New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1982 OCLC 8034627
  4. ↑ What It Is: The Life of a Jazz Artist, by Dave Liebman, Scarecrow Press (2012) OCLC 744300488
  5. 1 2 3 4 Essay: Link Chamberland: Master Guitarist, by Richard M. Blechta (born 1951), self-published online, August 1, 2004 (edited March 24, 2006)
  6. ↑ "Linc Chamberland, Yet to Come, Muse MR 5263" (review), Cadence, Vol. 9, 1983, pg. 26
  7. ↑ Motown Encyclopedia, by Graham Betts Smashwords (2014), pg. 203; OCLC 907947717

External links

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