Jazz Articles

Ross Hammond & Jay Nair: Hope

by Mark Corroto
January 26, 2021

We are all one people. That bears reiterating, and is probably why 12-string steel guitarist Ross Hammond and Indian Carnatic singer Jay Nair have repeated their musical collaboration; Hope follows the duo's 2018 release Songs of Universal Peace (Prescott Recordings) as they reconvene to spread their message once again. One may ask what does an Appalachian folk/delta blues guitarist have in common with a classical Indian Hindu singer? Well nothing, yet everything. Just as John Coltrane borrowed from ...

Ross Hammond - Oliver Lake - Mike Pride: Our Place On The Wheel

by Mark Corroto
February 8, 2020

Let's make the blues great again. Like a certain political slogan from the 2016 election, the blues, like America, has always been great. Guitarist Ross Hammond's blues are also analogous to the American experience, with his diverse and heterogeneous perspective. His trio recording Our Place On The Wheel reflects this variegated approach. The 'great' part is that Hammond's compositions are communicated through a dream team trio. His steel guitar is matched by jazz master saxophonist Oliver Lake of World Saxophone ...

Ross Hammond & Jay Nair: Songs Of Universal Peace

by Mark Corroto
May 4, 2018

If we all practiced a bit if mettā, there would be no war. The Buddha told us this, so did Gandhi, Mother Teresa and John and Alice Coltrane. All these folks realized the practice of mettā--loving kindness, or the wish that all sentient beings be happy and free from suffering--is the path to universal peace. The wish is simple, the practice much harder. The hope that others be happy and free from suffering must also extend to those you don't ...

Ross Hammond & Jon Bafus: Masonic Lawn

by Glenn Astarita
November 13, 2017

Guitarist Ross Hammond's radar blip keeps flickering across a multi-genre display the past several years, whether leading experimental jazz ensembles or morphing pre-conceived boundaries into other spheres. The Sacramento-based artist has performed with composer, reedman Vinnie Golia, drummer Mike Pride and a host of other cutting-edge progressive jazz heroes. On this release, Hammond unites his multifaceted musical persona with like-minded drummer Jon Bafus for a hip, roots-driven session that is a limited-CD release (only 50 copies) yet available as a ...

Ross Hammond: Follow Your Heart

by Mark Corroto
February 25, 2017

Have you doubted the existence of God? Wondered if there is a place called heaven? You may react to those questions with an emphatic “no," or, if your answer is you have “no doubts," you posses a substance called faith, an article beyond reason and knowledge. Listening to Follow You Heart by guitarist Ross Hammond bolsters the argument for this thing called faith. Hammond's solo acoustic set, recorded in a Sacramento church, opens with “Sinner Man," and a ...

Ross Hammond: Humanity Suite

by Glenn Astarita
July 26, 2014

Guitarist Ross Hammond is building upon his conspicuous artistic persona as a new wave jazz and improvisational guitarist, composer who aligns with fellow West Coast denizens, including seminal Southern California based woodwind ace Vinny Golia and others. With a dozen albums under his belt, the guitarist has exponentially pushed the envelope, largely with great success. He also possesses an idiosyncratic style, where unanticipated curveballs, off-center phrasings and variable use of distortion techniques have become a primary component of his rangy ...

David Ian: Valentine’s Day

by C. Michael Bailey
February 13, 2014

"A familiar world of jazz classics with the vintage feel..." Is it possible for jazz to have the same “historically-informed performance" preoccupation as classical music has since the 1970s?. This is not the same as the “period instrument" preoccupation of the same period in classical recording, though they do go hand-in-hand. “Historically informed" means the period performance practices are studied and applied today. Such rigorous attention does not exist in jazz as there are scores of artists trying to perform ...

Ross Hammond Quartet: Adored

by Troy Collins
June 5, 2012

Adored is the debut of Sacramento-based guitarist Ross Hammond's Quartet. Although Hammond's previous recordings have featured an array of configurations (ranging from solo recitals to spontaneous improvisations with various West Coast peers), this date is among the most impressive in his growing discography. For the first time, the relatively young guitarist leads an all-star quartet of respected veterans, including multi-instrumentalist Vinny Golia, bassist Steuart Liebig and drummer Alex Cline--all notable bandleaders in their own right.Randy McKean's liner notes ...

Ross Hammond: Teakayo Mission

by Troy Collins
July 19, 2007

Sacramento based guitarist Ross Hammond's Teakayo Mission is one of those rare, indie sessions that creatively succeeds where so many others fall by the wayside. Leading a potent group that listens as effectively as it plays, Hammond's quartet features saxophonist David Boyce, bassist Lisa Mezzacappa and renown drummer Scott Amendola. Covering an eclectic variety of tunes with a cohesive sonic sensibility, Hammond merges rock, jazz and free improvisation into a cohesive collection beyond category.

Hammond's writing favors a ...