Flugelhorn/trumpet player Ernie Hammes has many sides to his creativity, which is an extension of the music and the musicians who have made an impact on him. Hammes’ latest album, "Sanfrancha", was motivated by the cultures he experienced while playing in San Francisco, California in 2010. It was released in March 2011 and features his band “CUBOP” as well as many international guest artists. The original compositions are strongly latin-influenced.

Hammes is not only a prolific recording artist but also an experienced live performer. Ernie performed as sideman or soloist in over 25 countries worldwide with a.o. Chaka Khan, Maynard Ferguson & Big Bop Nouveau, the Dizzy Gillespie All Star Big Band, the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Slide Hampton, Randy Brecker, Claudio Roditi and Bob Mintzer. He has played at the Blue Note and Birdland in New York, Ronnie Scott’s Club/London, Basement/Sydney, as well as at Jazz festivals in Newport, Chicago, Montreux, North Sea Jazz and many more. “RETOUR A GOREE”  , a documentary/musical dvd about jazz and slavery, released in june 2007, features Ernie amongst African singer Youssou N’DOUR. Each year has brought Ernie Hammes closer to where he wanted to be, from being the principal trumpet player in the Luxembourg Army Band to leading a big band in 1994, becoming the musical director of the Luxembourg Jazz Orchestra as well as working on music projects with such notable luminaries as Bob Mintzer, Dave Liebman, and Frank Nimsgern.  Since 2012, he is touring all around the world together with Amina Figarova.

Quotations:

"Ernie is one of the few young musicians of today’s musicscene that are very unique because of their versatility. He has great ideas for his jazz playing and on top of that is a wonderful classical soloist. I truly love having Ernie in my band and I believe that he will have a great carreer on his own…

Maynard FERGUSON, May 2002