Stuart Hamm (born February 8, 1960) is an American

bass guitar The bass guitar, electric bass or simply bass (), is the lowest-pitched member of the string family. It is a plucked string instrument similar in appearance and construction to an electric or an acoustic guitar, but with a longer neck and s ...

player, known for his session and live work with numerous artists as well as for his unconventional playing style and solo recordings.

Career

Born in

New Orleans New Orleans ( , ,New Orleans

Champaign, Illinois Champaign ( ) is a city in Champaign County, Illinois, United States. The population was 88,302 at the 2020 census. It is the tenth-most populous municipality in Illinois and the fourth most populous city in Illinois outside the Chicago metrop ...

, where he studied bass and piano, played in the stage band at Champaign Central High School, and was selected to the Illinois All-State Band. Hamm graduated from Hanover High in

Hanover, New Hampshire Hanover is a town located along the Connecticut River in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. As of the 2020 census, its population was 11,870. The town is home to the Ivy League university Dartmouth College, the U.S. Army Corps of ...

in 1978, while living in

Norwich, Vermont Norwich is a town in Windsor County, in the U.S. state of Vermont. The population was 3,612 at the 2020 census. Home to some of the state of Vermont's wealthiest residents, the municipality is a commuter town for nearby Hanover, New Hampshire ...

. Following high school, he attended the

Berklee College of Music Berklee College of Music is a private music college in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known for the study of jazz and modern American music, it also offers college-level cou ...

Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the capital city, state capital and List of municipalities in Massachusetts, most populous city of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financ ...

, where he met guitarist

Steve Vai Steven Siro Vai (; born June 6, 1960) is an American guitarist, composer, songwriter, and producer. A three-time Grammy Award winner and fifteen-time nominee, Vai started his music career in 1978 at the age of eighteen as a transcriptionist f ...

and, through him, met

Joe Satriani Joseph Satriani (born July 15, 1956)Prato, Greg"Joe Satriani – Music Biography, Credits and Discography". ''AllMusic''. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved May 28, 2014. is an American guitarist, composer, songwriter, and guitar teacher. Early in his ...

. Hamm played bass on Vai's debut solo album, ''

Flex-Able ''Flex-Able'' is the debut studio album by American virtuoso guitarist Steve Vai. This was his first as a solo artist, and was created in Stucco Blue, a shed converted into a studio in Vai's old back garden. It is very different from many of hi ...

'', which was released in 1984. Hamm has performed and recorded with

Frank Gambale Frank Gambale (; born 22 December 1958) is an Australian jazz fusion guitarist. He has released twenty albums over a period of three decades, and is known for his use of the sweep picking and economy picking techniques. Recording career Solo ...

and many other well-respected guitarists. It was his playing live on tour with Satriani that brought Hamm's skills to national attention. Subsequent recordings with Satriani and other rock/fusion artists, along with the release of his own solo recordings, solidified his reputation as a bassist and performer.

Style

Hamm's first solo album, ''

Radio Free Albemuth ''Radio Free Albemuth'' is a dystopian novel by Philip K. Dick, written in 1976 and published posthumously in 1985. Originally titled ''VALISystem A'', it was his first attempt to deal in fiction with his experiences of early 1974. When his pub ...

'', inspired by the

Philip K. Dick Philip Kindred Dick (December 16, 1928March 2, 1982), often referred to by his initials PKD, was an American science fiction writer. He wrote 44 novels and about 121 short stories, most of which appeared in science fiction magazines during his ...

novel of the same name, was released in 1988. On it, Hamm demonstrated his abilities on a number of original compositions spanning a variety of genres including fusion, country, and classical. On solo pieces like "Country Music (A Night in Hell)," he demonstrates his

slapping Slap or slapping may refer to: * Slapping (strike), a method of striking with the palm of the hand * Slapping (music), a musical technique used with stringed instruments * Slap tonguing, a musical technique used on wind instruments * ''Slap'' ( ...

and two-handed tapping proficiency as well as the ability to make the bass imitate the sounds of a wide range of instruments; the piece has since become a popular live piece. On the same album, he performs an arrangement of Beethoven's "

Moonlight Sonata The Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, marked ''Quasi una fantasia'', Op. 27, No. 2, is a piano sonata by Ludwig van Beethoven. It was completed in 1801 and dedicated in 1802 to his pupil Countess Giulietta Guicciardi. The popular name ''Mo ...

". Early in his career, Hamm was associated with Philip Kubicki's Factor basses. Later, Fender musical instruments produced two signature model

electric bass The bass guitar, electric bass or simply bass (), is the lowest-pitched member of the string family. It is a plucked string instrument similar in appearance and construction to an electric or an acoustic guitar, but with a longer neck and ...

es designed and endorsed by Hamm himself, the first artist model bass ever made by Fender: the "Urge Bass" and the "Urge II Bass" upgrade with a D-Drop Tuner. Features include a sleek alder body, a graphite reinforced maple neck with a 2-octave rosewood fingerboard, a pair of dual-coil Ceramic Noiseless Jazz Bass single-coils (neck/bridge), a custom-wound split-coil Precision Bass humbucking pickup (middle) and a 3-band active EQ with 18V power supply. These basses were discontinued in 2010. Hamm then had his own

Washburn Washburn (alternatively Wasseburne, Wasseborne, Wasshebourne, Wassheborne, Washbourne, Washburne, Washborne, Washborn, Wasborn, Washbon) is a toponymic surname, probably of Old English origin, with likely Anglo-Norman and Norman-French influenc ...

signature models since 2011, the AB40SH acoustic bass and the Hammer, featuring EMG pickups, Hipshot bridge/tuners and a 3-band active EQ - followed by a fretless version (SHBH3FLTSS) and the Stuart Hamm Electric Bass series, introduced on January 20, 2012. In 2014, he moved to Warwick basses and started work on a signature model based on his Washburn with the Warwick Streamer model shape. Hamm's slapping, popping and two-handed tapping techniques are demonstrated on his solo recordings, as well as in his instructional videos, ''Slap, Pop & Tap For The Bass'' and ''Deeper Inside the Bass''. A popular part of his live performance often includes a two-handed tapping arrangement of

Vince Guaraldi Vincent Anthony Guaraldi (; né Dellaglio, July 17, 1928 – February 6, 1976) was an American jazz pianist best known for composing music for animated television adaptations of the ''Peanuts'' comic strip. His compositions for this series includ ...

's "Linus and Lucy" (from the animated television special ''

A Charlie Brown Christmas ''A Charlie Brown Christmas'' is a 1965 animated television special. It is the first TV special based on the comic strip ''Peanuts'', by Charles M. Schulz. Produced by Lee Mendelson and directed by Bill Melendez, the program made its debut o ...

''). Since March 2011, Hamm has performed with "The Deadlies," houseband for KOFY-TV's ''Creepy KOFY Movie Time.'' In July 2011, Hamm accepted the position of Director of Bass Programs at

Musician's Institute Musicians Institute (MI) is a private for-profit music school in Los Angeles, California. MI students can earn Certificates and – with transfer of coursework taken at Los Angeles City College – Associate of Arts Degrees, as well as Bachelor ...

in Hollywood, California. For the past two decades, Hamm has also toured as one of the world's premier bass clinicians.

Discography

Solo albums

* ''

'' (1988) * '' Kings of Sleep'' (1989) * ''

The Urge The Urge is an alternative rock band based in St. Louis, Missouri. Their music combines several genres, including hardcore punk, heavy metal, ska, reggae, funk, rock, and rhythm and blues. Consistent touring throughout the 1990s earned the ...

'' (1991) * '' Outbound'' (2000) * '' Live Stu X 2'' (2007) * '' Just Outside of Normal'' (2010) * ''

The Book Of Lies ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in ...

'' (2015) * '' The Diary of Patrick Xavier'' (2018)

With Frank Gambale

* '' The Great Explorers'' (1993)

With Frank Gambale and Steve Smith

* '' Show Me What You Can Do'' (1998) * '' The Light Beyond'' (2000) * '' GHS3'' (2002)

With Joe Satriani

* '' Dreaming #11'' (1988) -- Ice 9, Memories and Hordes of Locusts * ''

Flying in a Blue Dream ''Flying in a Blue Dream'' is the third studio album by guitarist Joe Satriani, released on October 30, 1989 through Relativity Records. It is one of Satriani's most popular albums and his second highest-charting release to date, reaching No. 23 o ...

'' (1989) -- Strange and The Bells of Lal (Part Two) * ''

Time Machine Time travel is the concept of movement between certain points in time, analogous to movement between different points in space by an object or a person, typically with the use of a hypothetical device known as a time machine. Time travel is a ...

'' (1993) -- Disc One: Time Machine, The Mighty Turtle Head and All Alone. Disc Two: Circles, Lords of Karma and Echo * ''

Crystal Planet ''Crystal Planet'' is the seventh studio album by guitarist Joe Satriani, released on March 3, 1998 through Epic Records. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas"Crystal Planet - Joe Satriani" '' AllMusic''. RhythmOne. Retrieved April 17, 2020. This was his fi ...

'' (1998) -- All Tracks except Time and Z.Z.'s Song * ''

Live in San Francisco Live may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Live!'' (2007 film), 2007 American film * ''Live'' (2014 film), a 2014 Japanese film *'' ''Live'' (Apocalyptica DVD) Music * Live (band), American alternative rock band * List of album ...

'' (2001) * '' Live In Paris: I Just Wanna Rock'' (2010)

With Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson, and Steve Vai

* '' G3 Live in Concert'' (1997) -- Tracks 1-3

With Steve Vai

* ''

'' (1984) * ''

Passion and Warfare ''Passion and Warfare'' is the second studio album by guitarist Steve Vai, released on May 22, 1990 through Relativity and Epic Records. It has been certified Gold by the RIAA. Background ''Passion and Warfare'' was written based on a series o ...

'' (1990) * ''

Fire Garden ''Fire Garden'' is the fourth studio album by guitarist Steve Vai, released on September 17, 1996, through Epic Records. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas"Fire Garden - Steve Vai" ''AllMusic''. All Media Network. Retrieved 2014-12-10. The album reached No ...

'' (1996) -- Track 3

With other artists

Richie Kotzen Richard Dale Kotzen Jr. (born February 3, 1970) is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. As a solo artist, Kotzen has back catalogue of more than 20 album releases. He was a member of glam metal band Poison from 1991 to 1993, Mr. Big f ...

, ''

'' (1989) *

Michael Schenker Group The Michael Schenker Group (often abbreviated as MSG) are a guitar-oriented hard rock band, formed in London in 1979 by former Scorpions and UFO guitarist Michael Schenker. In 1986, Schenker and vocalist Robin McAuley formed the McAuley Sc ...

, ''

Arachnophobiac ''Arachnophobiac'' is the eleventh full-length studio album recorded by the various M.S.G. lineups and the eighth studio album by the German hard rock band Michael Schenker Group released in 2003. After leaving UFO, rumors spread about Schenk ...

'' (2003) *

Working Man "Working Man" is a song by rock band Rush from their self-titled debut album. In an interview on the ''Rolling Stone'' YouTube channel, bassist and lead vocalist Geddy Lee said that "Working Man" is his favorite song to play live. "Working Man" b ...

, a

Rush Rush(es) may refer to: Places United States * Rush, Colorado * Rush, Kentucky * Rush, New York * Rush City, Minnesota * Rush Creek (Kishwaukee River tributary), Illinois * Rush Creek (Marin County, California), a stream * Rush Creek (Mono Cou ...

tribute album, tracks #7, #10, #11 (1996) *

Yngwie Malmsteen Yngwie Johan Malmsteen ( ; born Lars Johan Yngve Lannerbäck, 30 June 1963) is a Swedish guitarist. He first became known in the 1980s for his neoclassical playing style in heavy metal, and has released 22 studio albums in a career spanning ov ...

Ronnie James Dio Ronald James Padavona (July 10, 1942 – May 16, 2010), known professionally as Ronnie James Dio, was an American heavy metal singer. He fronted and founded numerous bands throughout his career, including Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio and ...

, for ''Not The Same Old Song and Dance,'' an Aerosmith tribute album, track #6, "Dream On" (1999) * George Lynch, Gregg Bissonette, and Vince Neil, for ''Bat Head Soup,'' an

Ozzy Osbourne John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne (born 3 December 1948) is an English singer, songwriter, and television personality. He rose to prominence during the 1970s as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Black Sabbath, during which period he adop ...

tribute album, track #9, "Paranoid" (2006) *

Caifanes Caifanes is a rock band from Mexico City. Formed in 1987, the group achieved international fame during the late 1980s and early 1990s. The original line-up was Saúl Hernández (vocals and guitar), Sabo Romo (bass guitar), (drums) and Diego ...

(band) on the El nervio del volcán (album) on track #8 Quisiera Ser Alcohol. *

Adrian Legg Adrian Legg (born 16 May 1948) is an English guitar player who has been called "impossible to categorize". He plays custom guitars that are a hybrid of electric and acoustic, and his fingerstyle picking technique has been acknowledged by the re ...

, ''Mrs. Crowe's Blue Waltz'' (1992) * Bill Lonero, " Slather" (2004) *

David Stockden David (; , "beloved one") (traditional spelling), , ''Dāwūd''; grc-koi, Δαυΐδ, Dauíd; la, Davidus, David; gez , ዳዊት, ''Dawit''; xcl, Դաւիթ, ''Dawitʿ''; cu, Давíдъ, ''Davidŭ''; possibly meaning "beloved one". w ...

, "Reflections of Themes" (2009) * Thomas Tomsen, "Sunflickers" (2010) * Matthias Arp, "Endorphin Overdose" (2010) - Track 1+10 * Marco Iacobini, "The Sky There'll Always Be" (2013) * Gretchen Menn, "Oleo Strut" (2011)

Instructional videos

* '' Slap, Pop & Tap for the Bass'' (1987) * " Deeper Inside the Bass" (1993) * "

Bass Basics Bass or Basses may refer to: Fish * Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species Music * Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in the bass range: ** Bass (instrument), including: ** Acoustic bass ...

" (2008) * " Fretboard Fitness" (2010)

References

External links

*
Interview with Stu Hamm..., 10/01/2009

Interview with Stuart Hamm
at AltGuitarBass.com {{DEFAULTSORT:Hamm, Stuart 1960 births Living people Musicians from New Orleans American blues guitarists American male bass guitarists American rock guitarists Michael Schenker Group members 20th-century bass guitarists 21st-century American bass guitarists Guitarists from Louisiana 20th-century American bass guitarists 20th-century American male musicians 21st-century American male musicians Favored Nations artists