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Trumpet Celebrity Interviews

[ a celebration of the artistry of ALL styles of Trumpet ]





E R N I E    H A M M E S


Ernie HAMMES is a very creative jazz-musician and a superb classical soloist. He is a rare talent.

Lew SOLOFF, January 2000

Ernie is a first rate trumpet player who covers an awful lot of ground with his playing and writing. Working with him was always a rewarding and highly musical experience. Keep your eyes on this musician.

Bob MINTZER, March 2002

Ernie is one of the young musicians of today's scene that are very unique because of their versatility. He has great ideas for his jazz playing and on top of that he is a wonderful classical soloist. I truly love having Ernie in my band and believe that he will have a great career on his own.

Maynard FERGUSON, May 2002

T  H  E      I  N  T  E  R  V  I  E  W . . .



Would you like to add your web address /email at this point?

yes.
www.erniehammes.com
and email....
mailto:ehammes@pt.lu


Was your family background musical?

no, not at all. My father played the guitar a little bit but that was it.

What made you decide to play trumpet?

I guess, when I was young, I saw too many trumpet players on tv and that kept me with that instrument. I was always fascinated by that shiny, golden instrument. Altough nowadays my trumpet isn't shiny anymore. (I play on a Dave monette trumpet)

At what age did you start?

I started with the trumpet and all the theory classes at the age of nine.

On leaving your education, have you always been a full time musician?

Actually yes. Right after my studies at the age of 17, I had the opportunity to join the Luxembourg Army Concert Band as the principal trumpet.

Describe your early experiences of semi / pro work please.

Well, like everybody, I guess, I played some minor local gigs including weddings or some concerts with local ensembles like amateur concert bands, or brass bands.

Who were your teachers?

My first teacher when I started was an American trumpeter that plays in the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra. Unfortunately the guy only spoke french and english at the time so I didn't understand too much what he told me about the trumpet. So after a year my parents and me moved to a different place so that I had to change the teacher. From then on, I stayed with my new teacher, Joel SAND, until the end of my studies in Luxembourg. Then I went to the conservatory of Nancy (F), where the teacher was Dino TOMBA and finally to the conservatory of Metz (F) where I studied with Mr. MARTINOT.

That's it for my classical studies. For the jazz, I took my first steps at the age of 17 with Ack VAN ROOYEN in the Netherlands before I went to the Manhattan School of Music in New York City to study with Lew SOLOFF, a trumpet player I always admired because of his versatility. Besides that, I took some private lessons over the years with Jon FADDIS and Claudio RODITI.

What Orchestral experience have you had?

I subbed in the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orchestre Symphonique de Nancy (France) on a regular basis. I joined the Luxembourg Army Concert Band in 1987 and still play the principal trumpet there today. (with some interruptions either for studying or for touring purposes). For my classical CD, I used a chamber orchestra from Kosice. For one occasion, I performed the Brandenburg concerto Nr.2 with a chamber orchestra from Riga, Lituania. In the summer of 2002, I played the lead trumpet with the Lux. Phil. Orch. together with the rock band "SCORPIONS" for an outdoor festival concert attended by more than 15.000 people. Quite amazing experience there!

What session (Jingles / TV) experience have you had?

I had a few concerts that were recorded by the TV especially here in Luxembourg, including classical, jazz and rock performances.

What small group / ensemble experience have you had?

I have my own band for the last 7 years. The members as well as the music style changed of course over the years, but I always worked most with my own small band. Besides that band, I played in several big bands or other style bands like Chaka Khan's band in 1996-97 for her european tour, Carla Bley's big band in 2002 and with Maynard Ferguson and his Big Bop Nouveau band also in 2002-03.

Other playing experiences?

Several Musicals in Germany, Claude Bolling, Claudio Roditi, Bob Mintzer, Manhattan School of Music Jazz Orchestra, Europool (european big band with members from 6 different countries)...

Have you a solo recording available?

I have two recordings on my own. the first one, "Festival", recorded in 1997 is a classical trumpet CD with organ and/or chamber orchestra. The other one called "Stepwise" is my jazz CD which features my band and guest soloists Bob Mintzer and Lew Soloff. Lew is also the producer of that album. It was recorded in 2000 at Clinton recording studios in NYC. So far, they are only available on my website (www.erniehammes.com) or if you ever get there, in Luxembourg!?

Any funny / interesting on the road type stories?

It was very interesting for me to be on the road with Maynard's band for over a year. After a while, you really become a family. You drink, eat, hang around, and of course play music together, and that's just a lot of fun and interesting to get to know each other really well.

I will never forget the day we had to take a small, I mean a very small airplane in New Zealand to get from the North-Island to the South-Island. We even had to split up the band, which is not very big anyway to get on that plane. The drummer was making fun of me because he knew that I hate flying, especially if the plane is smaller than a regular car...but after an hour or so in the air, the drummer got afully quiet...because the flight was really, really bumpy!!!!!!!! And that was the end of the drummer making fun of me...hee hee..

Any news on new projects?

After being on the road for quite a while, especially with Maynard for the past year, I definitely wanna focus much more on my own band, my own music and I will try to do some touring with that band as well. Besides that, I also want to record a new CD with the band...as soon as I will be able to find a good, or at least decent record deal somewhere.

Favourite four albums?

Claudio Roditi, Jazz turns Samba
Paquito d'Rivera & Arturo Sandoval, Reunion
Maynard Ferguson, Big Bop Nouveau
Tower of Power, Monster on a Leash

Favourite two movies?
Star Wars, Leathal Weapon...

Favourite three foods?

horse steak with garlic sauce, any salads and...hot dogs...a reminder from being on the road!

Non-musical hobbies / points of interest you enjoy?

scuba diving, squash, cycling, cooking, cuban cigars and a good wine!

Do you take days off from playing? (How does it affect you?)

After playing too much, after a tour or some tough gigs, I'm trying to take one or two days off. But that's about the most I can take because I don't feel secure anymore after more than a couple of days of not playing...for the stuff I wanna hear!

Any chop problems / solutions you've personally had you can share?

Well, as most trumpet players, I went through a lot of mouthpiece changes. Especially when I was younger I used very small mouthpieces because I thought I couldn't play high notes on a large mouthpiece. But , I finally found some mouthpieces that fit perfectly. Nowadays, I'm playing on a medium shaped piece for all my jazz and big band playing, and still a pretty big piece for my classical performances. You always have to adapt your equipment for the kind of jobs you are playing or trying to get. Everybody is different, so do not make the mistake to play such and such mouthpiece because a well known trumpeter is playing it!!!

Thank you and keep on blowing! -- Ernie Hammes.



Thank you very much indeed for sharing your thoughts with the
' Trumpet Web Community '17th April 2003.


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