(Photo by Ronn Dunnett, provided by Matt Chamberlain)
Matt Chamberlain may be the most famous West Seattle musician you haven’t heard of – or haven’t heard much about. But there’s a strong likelihood you’ve heard his work, given everyone with whom he’s played/recorded. And now he’s e-mailed WSB with news that DRUM! Magazine has included him in its list “15 Greatest Groove Drummers of All Time.” Here’s an excerpt he shared from the writeup by Sam Pryor:
By creating a singular groove, Chamberlain became the first-call L.A. session drummer (sorry, Josh Freese). The diverse artists he has recorded with mirror his enormous ability to fit into any situation. Majorly pliable, Chamberlain’s skills (both physically delivered and occasionally programmed) have appeared on more than 200 albums, including those by Fiona Apple, The Wallflowers, Stevie Nicks, Dave Navarro, Master Musicians Of Jajouka, Garbage, David Bowie, Keith Urban, William Shatner, Shakira, Sean Lennon, Sarah McLaughlin, and Dido.
If you noted the L.A. reference – he spends a lot of time there working, but lives here. He explained in his note to us, “My wife and I have been residents of West Seattle for over 15 years … I live here and travel quite a bit but this is always home to me.” The “Top 15” list is in the April issue of DRUM! – which isn’t online yet (though Chamberlain has posted the full text on his website), where we also found word (scroll below the DRUM! mention in the text box on the home page) that he’s playing with Pigeonhed in a benefit at Seattle club Neumos tomorrow.
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