Linc Chamberland

Linc Chamberland (né Lionel Victor Chamberland; 13 September 1940 Norwalk, Connecticut — 24 June 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]

Chamberland sometimes spelled his nickname "Link" and some published references incorrectly spell 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).^[2] The band cut a record in 1972 with Mowtown under its new name, "Gotham."^[3] Other names of the band included "Gasmask" and "The New York Street Band."^[4]

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.^[4]

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 is allowed Chamberland to create his signature R&B style.^[1]

The Telecaster is currently owned by Bob Maclauglin, one of Chamberland last two students.^[4]

Beginning 1975, Linc's jazz era

IN 1975, fed-up that R&B had gone pop, Chamberland purchased a 1960s Gibson L-5 from Art Betker 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.^[4]

Selected discography

<div= style="-moz-column-width:50em; column-width:50em; font-size:90%;"> As member of The Orchids

• Twistin' at the Roundtable With the Orchirds, Roulette Records (LP; mono) (1961) OCLC 13915870

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, a division 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

• A Place Within, Muse Records MR5064 (1976) OCLC 24293977

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
2. Stella by Starlight
3. Mah-Jong
4. What's new? (Lilebman is not on this cut)
5. A place within
6. 1957
7. Three Thing

• Yet to Come, Muse Records MR5263 (1983) OCLC 31807829

Linc Chamberland (guitar), David Friesen (bass), Gary G. Hobbs (born 1948) (drums)

Recorded in New York, April 17, 1981

1. I hear a Rhapsody
2. Virgo
3. Have You Met Miss Jones?
4. Footprints
5. Yet to Come
6. Autumn Leaves

As band member

• Gotham: Pass the Butter, Natural Resources (Motown Records) NR104 (1972) OCLC 31848567

As sideman

• Ernie Wilkins And His Orchestra: Hard Mother Blues, Mainstream Records (1970s) OCLC 8011200

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

• Giant: What's In This Life For You, Mercury Records (SR-61285) (1970) OCLC 64580749

• The Rascals: Peaceful World, Columbia Records (1971) OCLC 213482719

Chamberland (guitar & horn arrangements)

• David Liebman/Pee Wee Ellis: Light'n Up Please, A&M Horizon SP721 (1977) OCLC 12047315

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),^[2] 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 guitarists John Stowell^[5] and John Butler, both of Portland, Oregon, and Bill Bickford (né William Campbell Bickford; born 1957).^[6]

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.

External links

• Linc Chamberland Tribute website, edited and posted by Rick Blechta

References