Ben Hammond
He’s smooth and trending toward jazz. But to put Ben Hammond’s music in that pigeon hole would be too easy and, more important than that, it would be incorrect. Why? Because the beginning of “Let’s Get Alone” (Peliguin Drop Records) is smooth jazz, as is the ending. Somewhere between those sections is a hip-hop sort of effort. Be sure, though, that “Worst Kind of Perfect” is jazz, of a sort. But he markets himself as rock, folk-rock and pop. I might have a hard time buying that characterization.
Hammond is from everywhere, apparently, because he lists his settling places as Sarasota, Florida; Hiram, Maine; and Montreal, Quebec. He isn’t appearing everywhere, though. His gigs from Oct. 22 through Nov. 28 are all in Sarasota, Florida. He does move on to New Hampshire and Maine in the winter! Some like it, I guess.
Players/contributors are: Ben Hammond – vocals, guitars, keyboards, etc.; Nico Dann – drums, backing vocals, percussion; Dan Fortin – bass; Gabe Nespoli – Hammond B3 organ, grand piano, keys. Other musicians are to numerous to mention, really. The touring band for this year includes Danny Berglund, Kevin Warren, Kelly Muse and Mick Mendelsohn. You may hear some different musicians when Hammond and friends are settled in Sarasota. He lists The Beatles, Wilco, Stevie Wonder, Jack Johnson etc. as influences.
Tags: music, ben hammond, indie music, independent music, indie
