He was among the most revered (and funkiest) of all the Jeff Beck Group bassists even though he appeared on only two of the legendary guitarist’s releases – both of which were somewhat out of fashion upon their appearance in the early 1970s when hard and progressive rock were dominating the landscape.

A UK by way of Trinidad session ace, Clive Chaman brought a fluid, soulful disposition to the artists he anchored. On the aforementioned Beck sides – Rough and Ready (1971), and Jeff Beck Group (1972) aka “Orange Album – Chaman plied harmonic extensions and grooves aplenty as Beck gradually transitioned from a hard rocker to a jazz fusion artist.  Chaman came to the attention of Beck by way of his work with Ram John Holder on the ‘69 release London Blues.

When Beck pulled the plug on this edition of JBG, Clive teamed with the band’s iconic drummer Cozy Powell’s Hammer collective.

Following his time with Powell, Clive partnered with another Beck Group alumnus, singer Bobbie Tench, and waxed a side with Junior Marvin’s Hanson Now Hear This (1973) which also featured Jean Roussel (Cat Stevens, Joan Armatrading), Rebop, and Chris Wood.

In ‘75 Clive hooked up with jazz rockers Hummingbird – again, with former Jeff Beck Group ‘71-’72 members Tench, and keyboardist Max Middleton, along drummer Bernard Purdie.

Chaman also anchored seminal slabs by the Brian Auger Express, Donovan, and Paul Kossoff.

As pictured, Clive’s weapon of choice back in the 70s was Fender Precision!

Clive Chaman Sound & Vision…  

Ram John Holder  “Brixton Blues” https://youtu.be/6h53C_X8BzY

Clive tearing it up with The Jeff Beck Group on Beat Club https://youtu.be/X6dFeVos3X0

Tony Senatore’s rendition of Clive’s “Goin’ Down” with the Jeff Beck Group https://youtu.be/PKUzJeHKsgE

Clive and Cozy “Living A Lie” from the ‘74 Sessions Lost Reel Masters https://youtu.be/1az6RPIN4Pw

Hanson “Mister Music Maker” https://youtu.be/VUHAre7ZqUM

Clive with Hummingbird:

“Scorpio” https://youtu.be/WHIHoB6pIck

“We Can’t Go on Meeting Like This” https://youtu.be/Xlxob3rIwik

Brian Auger Express 1975 https://youtu.be/YXupUgub-oQ

Paul Kossoff “Back Street Crawler” https://youtu.be/i7W4QE7SwoQ