Swinging on a Star Tardo Hammer Trio

• 1 Gone 03:50
• 2 Numero Uno 05:38
• 3 Swinging On A Star 04:53
• 4 Samba Do Brilho 04:11
• 5 How Are Things In Glocca Morra 06:58
• 6 Little Willie Leaps 03:29
• 7 I Found A Million Dollar Baby 05:35
• 8 Ballad For Very Tired And Sad Lotus Eaters 05:52
• 9 Monk's Dream 06:18
• Total Runtime 46:44

Info for Swinging on a Star

Propulsive and swinging from top to bottom, Tardo Hammer sets a high bar for piano trio playing with "Swinging on a Star". Buoyed by bassist Lee Hudson and master drummer Steve Williams, Hammer is at once earthy and ethereal in his 9-tune program that ranges from Gil Evans to Monk. Whether tearing into searing up-tempo bop lines, or laying into a relaxed groove, the trio plays with verve and style.

"Miles Davis’ bop influence is delivered in his own composition “Little Willie Leaps”. Hammer takes on the challenges of the number’s fast tempo and chord changes to show his capabilities and demonstrate that he is of the same lineage as the masters of hard bop piano such as Bud Powell, Hampton Hawes and Kenny Barron. For a completely different take on bebop, look no further than Thelonious Monk. His composition “Monk’s Dream” was recorded by Monk’s then quartet in 1962 under an album of the same name. All of Monk’s quirkiness is on full display in Hammer’s interpretation of the number, with the added feature that Steve Williams drumming is predominately displayed and is full of swing and spirit. There is no need for a further four years to go by before Tardo Hammer brings his talent before a welcoming audience." (Audiophile Audition)

Tardo Hammer, piano
Lee Hudson, double bass
Steve Williams, drums

Richard "Tardo" Hammer
was born in 1958 in Queens, N.Y. At age 5, Hammer began playing piano, and he went on to explore the clarinet and guitar before coming back to the piano by the time he was 13.

As a teenager, Hammer was an avid listener to recorded jazz, devouring a wide variety of work by Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Errol Garner, Bill Evans, Teddy Wilson, John Coltrane and others. By age 15, he'd formed his own sextet.

After high school, Hammer moved to New York and began working professionally. He took any gigs he could find and supplemented his income teaching piano. By the '80s, he'd become a regular in clubs around town, and began working with such artists as Bill Hardman, Junior Cook, Lionel Hampton, Lou Donaldson and the Art Farmer-Clifford Jordan Quintet. Hammer made his recording debut alongside Al Cohn and Mel Lewis in trumpeter Al Porcino's big band.

He has been a choice accompanist for jazz vocalists including Annie Ross, Earl Coleman, David Allyn, Abbey Lincoln, Teri Thornton, Marion Cowings and Jon Hendricks.

Since the 1990s, Hammer has been performing in clubs and festivals in Europe, Japan and the U.S. In 1999, Hammer began making trio recordings as a leader.. His sixth and most recent album is Swinging on a Star, recorded for Cellar Live. He appears as a sideman on CDs by Warren Vache, Charles Davis, Grant Stewart and many others.

Active as an educator, Hammer is on the faculty of the Lucy Moses School, The New School and the Special Music High School as well as conducting classes and lessons at clinics and colleges worldwide.

This album contains no booklet.