Support Gary Hammon's Next Recording Project

Hello everybody! My name is Gary Hammon, and I am a saxophonist, composer, and educator currently based in the Seattle area. I have had a long career playing with musicians such as Sam Rivers, Stevie Wonder, Ed Blackwell, Sonny Simmons, Barbara Donald, Grachan Moncur III, John Ore, Calvin Hill, Nathan Page, Sonelius Smith, JR Mitchell, and more. I am greatly influenced by my mentors such as Rasaan Roland-Kirk, Jackie McLean, Mary Lou Williams, Sonny Rollins, Harold Vick, Junior Cook, Joe Henderson, Max Roach, Stan Getz, Clifford Jordan, Archie Shepp, Charlie Rouse, Joe Brazil, and Kenny Durham.

 

I am currently in the process of developing my new album in Spring/Summer 2022. The music featured on this album will combine the musical and cultural influences that represent me, as well as my hopes for the future, justice for all with an emphasis on history, lineage, and cultural preservation. Part of my vision for my new album is to bring together different cultural influences from my home. Inspired by my Black American and Native American heritage, I pay tribute to my cultures through a piece entitled First Nations. I also want to encapsulate the music of my time, inspired by the music of the 70s. My ancestors before me are the reason I am here creating this music. Without them, there would be no me. This project will also feature the compositions and playing of young talented guitarist, Mike Eskenazi, who has become a frequent musical collaborator of mine over the years playing in my group, Last of the Tribe. Passing down traditions, history, and creating music with thoughtful and creative players of the next generation is an essential part of the evolution of this music. 

 

I am looking to raise $8,500 so that I can make a high-quality studio recording, pay for mixing and mastering, compensate the musicians in my band, and cover all other album costs. No donation is too small!

 

Find more about Mr. Hammon here: (http://www.garyhammonmusic.com)

Link to interview with Jonah Johnathan in 2019: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyjTEgyOtJo)

 

Interview with Earshot Jazz:

(https://www.earshot.org/project/gary-hammon-last-of-the-tribenovember2018/)

 

Born and raised in Seattle, Gary “Jubil” Hammon is one of a number of musicians from the area that have enjoyed a long and successful career in the performing arts. Gary began his study of the saxophone while a junior at Garfield High School. With diligent practice, he advanced rapidly on the instrument, and soon began playing in bands around the thriving Seattle music scene. With some encouragement from Jim Wilke, he applied for further musical study at the renowned New England Conservatory of Music. Awarded a scholarship, he began attending in 1969, the first year black students were accepted. While there he benefitted greatly while studying with Kenny Dorham, Mary Lou Williams, Carmen McRae and others. He also helped inaugurate the jazz studies program at the Conservatory in 1972, as part of Gunther Schuller’s ensemble. Impressing the likes of Isaac Stern and Arthur Fiedler, the program has been a success ever since.

 

Gary went on to establish himself on the jazz scene in Boston and New York, frequently filling in for Harold Vick before leading his own bands, becoming a regular at Wally’s in Boston and Manny’s Car Wash in New York. This led to working and touring with blues greats Albert King and Albert Collins, a long stint with Big Jim Patton’s band, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder and further jazz work with Barbara Donald and Grant Green.

 

Gary Hammon returned to Seattle in 2004 after a long career as a sideman and an educator. After being in so many great bands led by others, he was eager to pursue his own musical directions. Gary teamed up with saxophone great Hadley Caliman to make a two tenors album, “Fangs,” and they performed regularly throughout the Seattle area for some years. When Hadley Caliman got called to play with Bobby Hutcherson one weekend, Gary called trumpeter Erik Esvelt to fill in at the last minute. The two musicians quickly recognized their shared enthusiasm for an old-school, lyrical approach to playing the music. A long-term collaboration sprung from there, and the two horn players were soon rehearsing together, working on blending their sounds and learning each others’ music. Gigs in 2011 culminated in recording their album, “Slightly in the Tradition,” that summer.

 

Still active as an educator, Hammon has been teaching saxophone and sharing his love of music for over four decades. As well as having tutored dozens of award-winning musicians, Gary has also worked closely with Ballard High School’s program in recent years, helping them become one of the region’s top programs and regular attendees of the prestigious Essentially Ellington competition held annually in New York City.