Fans
of the great blues-rock guitar gods—from Rory Gallagher and Gary
Moore to American legends like Buddy Guy and Johnny Winter—will
find much to like about Ten Til Midnight, the 2009 CD from
up and coming blues rocker Sean Chambers. A fondness for the bluesy
side of Jimi Hendrix led Chambers to his passion for the blues, which
in turn led him back to the greats like Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters,
and the Kings—Albert, Freddie and B.B. King. Having released
his debut Strong Temptation in 1998, which he followed up with
Humble Spirits in 2005, Chambers blows the roof off again with
his 2009 CD Ten Til Midnight. Produced by Chambers and Tim
Blair—and recorded in Zephyrhills, Florida—the ten track
CD features the core band of Chambers, longtime bassist Tim Blair
along with drummer Paul Broderick, both of whom played with
Chambers as members of Hubert Sumlin’s touring band. Balancing
out the Chambers originals are three covers including “Brown
Sugar,” written by Billy Gibbons, “All The King’s Horses,”
by Luther Allison and “You’re Gonna Miss Me,” originally
written by Eddie “Guitar Slim” Jones. With minimal overdubs,
Ten Til Midnight is so expertly recorded that you’ll feel
you’re right there watching Chambers and company burning up the
stage at an after hours blues club. www.SeanChambers.com
MUSIC WEB EXPRESS 3000
presents SEAN CHAMBERS
Guitars Center Stage
Guitarists making waves in the music world,
their new recordings and gear!
Musical Background
I've
been playing now for well over 20 years. I grew up as a young boy
listening to a lot of the popular rock bands of the time, now considered
"Classic Rock" I guess. When I was around 13 years old I
discovered Jimi Hendrix. The song was “Red House” and I
knew at that moment this is the music I want to play! I could feel
it like no other music I had ever heard. I listened to a lot of Hendrix
for a few years as a kid learning to play. Then in my mid teens I
started discovering a lot of the Texas blues guys like Johnny Winter,
Albert Collins, SRV, Freddie King. The list goes on. After delving
into their library of music, I soon began to discover a lot of their
influences like Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf, B.B. King, Lightning Hopkins,
Elmore James etc... I started my first band when I was in my early
twenties and played around the state of Florida for several years.
Then, when I was 28 years old, I got the gig as Hubert Sumlin's guitar
player/musical director. Hubert took my band and I all over the world.
I learned so much during my four and a half years playing with Hubert.
Since then, I've released three albums on my own, the latest being
Ten Til Midnight.
New CD
The new CD is called Ten Til Midnight. We recorded
it at Two Dog Studios in Zephryhills, FL. Appearing on the CD is Tim
Blair on the bass guitar, Paul Broderick on Drums, Gary Keith plays
some mean harmonica on two tracks, Ben Crider on Hammond B3 for six
of the songs, Clarence Stevens and Robin Bouie appear on two tracks
singing some great backup harmonies and finally Jack Henriquez, one
of the best piano players I know appears track four. On this album,
we wanted to capture as much of a live feel and energy as we could
without actually doing a live CD. We made a point to not over produce
it in an attempt to allow the listener to experience our music as
we sound live. The majority of it was recorded live in the studio,
with the exception of some vocal and guitar overdubs. We also added
Gary’s harmonica part after we finished "Blues & Rock
‘n’ Roll” (track two) and dubbed the piano part in
track four, "You're Gonna Miss Me." I am really happy with
the final product. I believe it captures us in the raw, which is the
way I like a lot of my music. I feel like a lot of my musical influences
come through on different tracks on this album.
Favorite
Guitars
Guitars are as follows:
Fender Strat - (Early 90’s Mexican Strat) Maple Neck
Pickups - Lindy Fralin SP43’s
Fender Strat - with custom maple neck made by Jim Hamilton
Pickups: Dimarzio Blue Velvets
Fender Strat 62 Reissue (Japanese Strat) - Rosewood Neck
Pickups: (neck and middle) stock, (Bridge) Dimarzio Hot Rail
Gretsch Electromatic - Mid 80’s model (used for slide )
Pickups: P90’s
Dean - National Steel/Resonator guitar
On Ten Til Midnight I used my blonde Strat (Mexican Strat)
and my black Strat (Fender body with custom neck by Jim Hamilton)
for the entire album, with the exception of tracks four and eight
which are slide songs that I played with my Gretsch. That one is set
up for slide. And, last but not least, the last track of the album
"I Don't Know Why" was recorded with my National steel resonator
guitar. For amps on this album, I used a Fender Bassman Head (1968)
running through a Fender Twin. Also used a Crate V50 5212 amp with
a 2x12 extension cabinet. Live I have been using that same amp with
a 15 inch extension cabinet. For the album as well as live I use a
TS9 tube screamer, a little chorus sometimes, and wah pedal for certain
things. I use GHS strings on all my guitars. Gauge is 11-53 with exception
of the Gretsch which I use 12-58 gauge for slide.
Musical Influences
Influences range from BB King, Buddy Guy, Howlin Wolf, Muddy
Waters, Elmore James, Lightning Hopkins, Bukka White, Albert Collins,
Freddie King, Albert King, Lonnie Mack to Hendrix, Trower, Gary Moore,
Jeff Beck, SRV, Johnny Winter, Billy Gibbons, and so forth. Some of
my favorite albums are Showdown (Albert Collins, Robert Cray
and Johnny Clyde Copeland), Getting Ready and Texas Cannonball
(Freddie King), Axis Bold As Love & Live At Monterey
(Jimi Hendrix), Cold Snap (Albert Collins), The London Sessions
& His Best (Howlin Wolf), Chess 50th Anniversary Collection
(Muddy Waters) Live At The Regal (BB King), Sweet Tea
(Buddy Guy) and a ton more!
Upcoming Plans
We plan on doing another cd some time next year. I hope to
start recording some ideas around the beginning of 2010. We are beginning
to plan some tours around the North East and Midwest around April-August
next year.
Web Site
www.seanchambers.com
www.myspace.com/seanchambersband
email: seanchambers@earthlink.net
