Ernie Hammes studied classical music in Luxembourg as well as in France before he joined the Luxembourg Army Concert Band in 1987 to become their principal trumpet. In 1991 he started his jazz studies with Ack Van Rooyen at the Conservatory of The Hague (NL). In 1997, he went to New York City to study at the Manhattan School of Music with Lew Soloff. Ernie recorded 7 CD under his own name including his last release 'Evolution' which features his own 5-tet with guests Philip Catherine on guitar and Wayne Escoffery on tenor-sax. Also for this CD, he wrote arrangments for a 10-piece string section.
Blue Note, Birdland, Dizzy’s, The Jazz Standard’s, Newport Jazzfestival, Chicago Jazzfestival, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Jazz Fest, Portland Jazzfestival (US), Ronnie Scott’s, Royal Albert Hall (UK), The Basement (AU), Montreux Jazzfestival (CH), North Sea Jazz, Concertgebouw (NL), Pori Jazzfestival (FI), Umbria Jazz (IT), Vancouver Jazzfestival, Edmonton Jazzfestival, Calgary Jazzfestival, Toronto Jazzfestival (CA), Philharmonie de Paris (FR), ...
: PRESS QUOTES
"Ernie is an amazing lead trumpet player and jazz soloist. His musical knowledge expands beyond the norm. It was great to meet him and work together, as we performed my Big Band repertoire with the Luxembourg Jazz Orchestra. It was a wonderful concert and I look forward to many more!" - Michel Camilo
"…Ernie is one of the young musicians on today’s scene 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 career on his own…" - Maynard Ferguson
"…Ernie Hammes is a very creative jazz musician and a superb classical soloist…" - Lew Soloff
"…Ernie is a first rate trumpet player who covers an awful lot of ground with his playing and writing. Working with him was always a rewarding and highly musical experience. Keep your eyes on this musician…" - Bob Mintzer
: BIOGRAPHY
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. In 1997, Ernie received the “DOWNBEAT Student Music Award” for jazz ensemble and big band and in 2008 was nominee for the Eruodjango awards in the category 'Masters of Jazz'.
Ernie recorded 6 CD’s under his own name and can be heard as a sideman on over 35 recordings in various music genres. 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. “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 and as of 2013, Hammes is the only European known to have been a member of the Duke Ellington Orchestra from any era.
