Articles

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 & 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 ...

Ross Hammond: Holding onto the Wave

by Troy Collins
June 3, 2013

Sacramento-based guitarist Ross Hammond has been steadily gaining attention, courtesy of a tireless performing schedule reinforced and documented by a series of diverse albums issued on his own Prescott Recordings imprint. Hammond's releases have featured a variety of instrumental lineups, ranging from lyrical solo recitals to frenetic collective improvisations. His most recent endeavor is Cathedrals (Prescott Recordings, 2013), the sophomore follow-up to Adored (Prescott Recordings), the 2012 debut of his all- star quartet, which found the young guitarist leading an ...

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 ...