Stuart Hamm

The accomplished bassist, composer, and educator Stuart Hamm came to prominence through his work with Joe Satriani in the mid-Eighties, both live and on record. The New Orleans-born bassist had met Satriani through Steve Vai while at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Hamm is noted for his fusion and classical influences, and is a master of technique. Whether he is slapping, doing double-handed tapping, playing chordal work, using harmonics, or even pursuing a polyphonic approach, a Hamm bass-line is unlike nobody else’s. Over the years, he has worked with the likes of Frank Gambale, Steve Smith and Greg Howe, alongside a fascinating set of solo records that range from covers of classical pieces—including Bach and Beethoven—to minimalism, ambient and jazz. Hamm, who also plays piano and sings, has released several instructional videos, and also