Born in Paris, Chautemps initially studied medicine and law, and began playing saxophone at age 16.
In 1952 he began playing with Claude Bolling's orchestra, and around the same time worked with Henri Renaud and Albert Nicholas.
During these associations he played with Sidney Bechet, Django Reinhardt, Zoot Sims, Lester Young, Bobby Jaspar, Albert Ayler, and Roy Eldridge.
Later associations included work with Nathan Davis, Philly Joe Jones, André Hodeir, Lester Bowie, Bernard Lubat, Martial Solal, Lee Konitz, and Michel Portal.
[4][5] He appears as an interviewee in the 2010 documentary film by Christian Gascio Django Reinhardt - Three-Fingered Lightning.