Hamilton Sterling

Hamilton Sterling began playing electric bass in elementary school. He was very fortunate to have had committed music teachers in a time when music and art were funded in the public schools. He attended Dick Grove Jazz workshops over two summers, studying with Carol Kaye. Hamilton played bass in the Young Sounds Jazz Ensemble, an all-star big band founded by the Phoenix Musician’s Union, and entered the Allstate Orchestra as Principal Bassist his senior year. While in high school he performed with professional jazz ensembles that included Lewis Nash, Theresa Dimond, Joseph Tapia, Dick Weller, and Charlie Argersinger, and later with Allan Chase, Keith Miles, Ted Goddard, Charles Lewis, Prince Shell, Francine Reed, Dave Cook, and Tom Ferguson.

Hamilton received a four-year scholarship to attend Arizona State University’s music school in Jazz and Classical performance. In symposia and master classes he was directed by Quincy Jones, sat-in with Richie Beirach and Dave Liebman, and played a trumpet symposium and concert with Lew Soloff.

After completing his degree, he moved to San Francisco and set music aside to concentrate on breaking into film. To date he has worked on over one hundred feature films.

Hamilton met Jimmy Haslip and together they created Migration. Migration represents a unique blending of music and sound. Rise and Fall is Hamilton’s latest bass album.

Now in release are two films made by Hamilton: Absent Now the Dead - in release here:

https://watch.eventive.org/absentnowthedead/play/6077891cfb6e3c0037a4484e

And So Farewell - in release here:

https://watch.eventive.org/andsofarewell/play/60df89ad45d1310029e76c93

Absent Now the Dead's music is drawn from ancient Greek and traditional melodies and was produced by Hamilton Sterling and Jimmy Haslip. Barnaby Brown played the ancient woodwinds and Fletcher Sheridan sang the ancient Greek text and is the additional choral arranger. Scott Kinsey did choral arranging and Ryan Andrews arranged orchestrations.

And So Farewell features the music of renown guitarist and composer Ralph Towner. Mr. Towner plays guitar and synths, Mark Walker plays drums, Katisse Buckingham plays alto flute, and Fletcher Sheridan sings a Perotinus excerpt. Jimmy Haslip was the music producer and Rich Breen worked on the mix. Hamilton produced the film. The film played at the Kongsberg Jazz/Film Festival Kongsberg Jazz/Film Festival in Norway, July 7th, 2022 at the Krona Kino movie theater.

Awards

Sound Editing Awards - MPSE Golden Reel for Best Sound Effects Editing in a Domestic Feature Film for The Dark Knight. The Dark Knight won the Academy Award for Best Sound Editing. MPSE Golden Reel for Best Sound Effects Editing in a Domestic Feature Film for War of the Worlds. War of the Worlds was nominated for an Academy Award. MPSE Golden Reel for Best Sound Effects Editing in a Domestic Feature Film for Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. Master and Commander won the Academy Award for Best Sound Editing. MPSE nomination for Special Sound Effects for Men in Black. Honors - Inducted into Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences - class of 2009. Awarded an AFI post-production grant for the film, Faith of Our Fathers. Nominated for a Maverick Spirit Award, Cinequest Film Festival, Faith of Our Fathers. Various NAJE Awards

Gear

Rob Allen bass, Fender bass, Tacoma bass, Hakin Continuum Fingerboard, Kyma Sound Design System

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