Nationally Acclaimed Arranger, Composer, Keyboards, Band Leader
Bob Hammer is a multi-faceted musician whose background embraces a broad spectrum of activity in the music industry.
His main interest lies in jazz improvisation and composition, and his experience ranges from Television scoring to Las Vegas productions.
Bob's extraordinary talent has earned him a reputation as one of the most respected jazz artists in the music industry. His work is represented in the Smithsonian Institute's "History of Jazz" series by an arrangement of Charles Mingus' "Hatian Fight Song" for the composer's landmark nine-piece orchestra (1963 -1964). Details of his professional life can be found in Leonard Feather's "Encyclopedia of Jazz" (1967 Edition).
PROFESSIONAL CREDITS
Performances
Co-leader with Bob Wilber, "The Six", New York, NY (1955 - 1956), jazz band in residence at the Music Barn, Lenox, MA; Newport Jazz Festival, Newport RI (1955).
Roy Eldrige Quartet - Cafe Bohemia, New York, NY - (1956).
Gene Krupa Quartet - Basin Street East, New York, NY; Theatrical Lounge - Cleveland, OH; Colonial Tavern - Toronto Canada - (1956 - 57; 1963 - 63)
Sauter/Finegan Orchestra - Steel Pier, Atlantic City, NJ; Blue Note, Chicago, IL - (1956)
Henry "Red" Allen, Lionel Hampton, Woody Herman - Metropole cafe, New York, NY - (1958 - 62)
Eddie Condon's, - New York, NY; Bud Freeman Trio, Solo Pianist - (1959 - 1960)
Pee Wee Russell Quintet, Roy Eldridge Quartet - Village Vanguard, New York, NY - (1963)
Charles Mingus Village gate, New York, NY - (1964)
Bobby Hackett Tour - (1964)
Merv Griffin Show - Arranger & Substitute Pianist - ((1965-67)
"Jazz Magazine" - Reviewer for recordings - (1963-64)
McCoy Tyner, Yusef Lateef, etc. - Linear notes for impulse albums - (1963-64)
Recordings (Pianist, Composer, Arranger)
The Six - Bethlehem - (1955-56)
Jimmy Knepper (with Bill Evans) - (1957)
Charles Mingus - (1957)
Cozy Cole, "Carmen" (with Dick Hyman) - (1959)
Charles Mingus- Impulse - (1963-64)
Johnny Hartman - Impulse - (1963-64)
Woody Herman - Philips - (1963-64)
Clark Terry - Impulse - (1964)
Elvin Jones - Impulse - (1964)
Vegas & LA, 1967 - 1988
Bob was a member in show bands in Las Vegas at theTropicanna; Desert Inn; Flamingo; Frontier and the Sands. Amoung many others he accompanied:
The Nicholas Brothers - "Latin Fire"
Jack Benny, Anthony Newley,
Pat MoritaAnn Margret, et al.
Bob worked as Conductor - Pianist & Arranger for:
Barbara McNair, Joe Williams, various artists and revues.
The Nicholas Brothers
Redd Foxx - Musical director at the Landmark.
Merv Griffin - Contractor, Las Vegas Production
Slide Hampton Quintet - LA - Catalina's Bar & Grill - (1987)
Jimmy Cleveland Octet - Pianist/Arranger - (1992-95)
Applied Music - Jazz Improv Instructor - El Camino Community Colleg - (1989-95)
Musical Arrangement for Dancers
Bob has arranged "Dance Charts" for:
Harold and Fayard Nicholas (AKA The Nicholas Brothers)
Skip Cunningham
Chester Whitmore
Jacqueline Douget
Deborah Lysholm
Johnson & Peters
Tim Hickey
more recently, Dianne "Lady Di" Walker
TV - Film
"The Tunnel" - Award winning documentary - (1962)
McGraw-Hill Industrial Film
Education
Jackson Michigan Junior College - 1 year
Michigan State University - 1 -1/2 years
Manhatttan School of Music - 1 year
Hunter College - Broadway Show Scoring Techniques
Private studies with Henry Brant - Composition If you would like Mr. Hammer to arrange music for you, or would like him to arrange & conduct any size band for any type of function, and we will put you in touch with him.