Bassist Chuck Metcalf was born on January 8, 1931 in Seattle. Both of his parents were music teachers and young Chuck started playing piano and violin while still in elementary school. By the time he was 12 his mother was dismayed by his interest in playing boogie-woogie instead of concentrating on the classics. At 15 he was encouraged to try his hand at the acoustic bass. That was the same year he started listening to the records of Charlie Parker and became enamored with the bebop scene.

Metcalf attended the University of Washington and became a part of the jazz scene on campus, even though there was no formal jazz music program at the school yet. He started gigging at local clubs and played with other up-and-coming local musicians including Ray Charles, Quincy Jones, Ernestine Anderson and Buddy Catlett. Metcalf graduated with a degree in architecture and worked as an architect during the 1950s while continuing to play on weekends.

In the 1960s Metcalf decided to pursue a career in music full-time and got jobs touring with Anita O’Day, Joe Venuti and others. He also taught with Joe Brazil in the emerging jazz program at Garfield High School. In 1972 he moved to San Francisco where he continued work as a professional bassist and recorded with vocalist Mark Murphy before relocating to New York City in 1979. He spent much of the year 1980 on tour with Dexter Gordon before returning to Seattle to work with Ernestine Anderson, Bert Wilson, Jim Pepper, Frank Morgan and his own quartet.

Chuck Metcalf’s first record as a leader, “Live in Seattle,” was released in 1987, and he made three more albums over the next decade and a half. He also appeared on five albums with reed man Bert Wilson during the 1980s and early 1990s including “Live at the Bellevue Jazz Festival” and “Live at Caffe Starbucks.” He also made records with pianists Overton Berry and Primo Kim. Chuck was married to vocalist Joni Metcalf and the two often hosted jam sessions at their Seattle home. Chuck Metcalf passed away in 2012 after a battle with cancer.

Here is a link to a duet performance with Chuck Metcalf and saxophonist Mark Lewis from 2010:

"DUET"