About Bob:  Howard Robert Hammer (* March 3, 1930 in Indianapolis) is a US-American jazz musician (pianist and arranger).

Hammer studied at the Michigan State University and at Manhattan School of Music before taking private lessons by composer Henry Brant.

Hammer led a band together with Bob Wilber (1955). He worked in the Sauter/Finnegan Orchestra, the Roy Eldridge Quartet (1956) and with Gene Krupa (1956/57). He was a member of Red Allen's band (1958–1962) and Eddie Condon' (1959/60) band. At that time he recorded with Charles Mingus (who called him his 'Beethoven') and began to work as arranger for the bassist on Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus, Townhall Concert and the celebrated The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady. . In 1963 he played with Pee Wee Russell, Krupa and Eldridge. In 1964 he was on tour with Bobby Hackett. From 1965 to 1967 he worked as arranger for the Merv Griffin Show. He recorded with Jimmy Knepper, Johnny Hartman, Woody Herman, Clark Terry, and Elvin Jones. Between 1977 and 1988 he worked as a member of show bands in Las Vegas. After an engagement with Slide Hampton he worked as instructor for jazz improvisation at El Camino Community College and played in the Jimmy Cleveland Octet. He also worked with Barbara McNair, the Tommy Newsome Quartet and the Jerry Lewis Telethon. In 2004 he recorded with Floyd Standifer's quintet. He also arranged "Dance Charts" for the Nicholas Brothers, Skip Cunningham, Chester Whitmore, Jacqueline Douget, Deborah Lysholm or Tim Hickey.

KPLU’s Ken Wiley will be hosting the event with the Full Circle Jazz Orchestra,  vocalist Bernie Jacobs, Dancers Tim Hickey and Kevin Buster Yours Truly.  J

 Hope to see you there!

BELLEVUE, WA - Emcee Ken Wiley, Singer Stephanie Porter, and the Full Circle Jazz Ensemble will deliver some of Bob Hammer’s arrangements in production at the Meydenbauer Theater on Thursday July 28, 2011 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.  This concert will celebrate Mr. Hammer’s 60 years in the American music industry and service as a fundraiser/benefit for Bob, to help him with costs incurred from a recent major surgery.

Pianist, Bob Hammer has had a major hand in the American Jazz Scene for over sixty years. He has arranged and played for legends such as Gene Krupa, Lionel Hampton, and Charles Mingus (Mingus referred to Bob as his, “Beethoven”).

Keynote Speaker Ken Wiley of KPLU’s ‘Art of Jazz’, says, “...it is about the art of jazz, and Bob Hammer is a true artist” 

Emcee Ken Wiley will be joined by the Full Circle Jazz Ensemble, 11 piece with:
Nathaniel Paul-Schleimer (band leader/woodwinds)
Stephanie Porter - vocals
Eric Verlinde - piano
Andy Zadrozny - bass
Garey Williams - drums
Jack Klitzman and Galen Green (Nearly Dan) - woodwinds
Bobby Medina and Ron Barrow - trumpets
Bill Anthony - trombone
Johnny Conga - percussion
Frank Seeberger - guitar

In addition,  enjoy Latin dancers Maureen Munoz and Wladimir Pino Olivares as they spice up some of Bob’s latin arrangements with their dancing.
Tap dancer Tim Hickey will perform too.

For more information, visit http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/178754 or call 425-891-1054. Press passes are available upon request.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Hammer

http://thechrismckarrtet.bandcamp.com/album/with-margaret-davis

-Steph

SHOW STARTS AT 7:30pm!

Sunday May 30th    

5 - 6:30 PM - No Admission - Free!

Marine View Church

8469 Eastside Dr. NE, Tacoma, WA 98422

for more info. www.marineviewpc.org or 253.229.9206