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Todd’s
Solo Performance
Tool and
Drum Ensemble
The Power of the Drum
North
Indian Classical Music
Sonoran Consort
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Those
who have witnessed a Todd Hammes solo performance
have experienced his virtuosic musical
skills first hand. Simply put, Todd’s
performance skills on all manner of percussion
-- from marimba to tabla, from frame drum
to African kalimba – place him in
an elite group of gifted and highly skilled
instrumentalists. And, the wealth of musical
roots from which he draws demonstrates
a musical breadth that defies categorization.
But, a Todd Hammes
concert is very much a two-way street.
Todd’s capability to create spontaneous,
joyful audience involvement in the music-making
itself is a hallmark of his unique style.
The result is an interactive performance
experience that exceeds audience expectations
and send them home feeling a part of the
music itself. |
An innovative percussion group
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Along with Todd, performers
include Homero Ceron, Paul Gibson, Brian
Harris, Colin Jones-Weinert, Dan Kruse,
Doug Smith, and Dr. Norm Weinberg.
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Todd created the Tool and Drum
Ensemble in 2004 as a vehicle for his unique
compositional style. The group’s repertoire
include solos, duos, trios and quartets, most
of them composed by Todd and commissioned by
modern dance companies.
Established as a collective,
the Tool and Drum Ensemble (TDE) includes percussionists
chosen for their energy and skill; a typical
TDE concert employs up to four players. The players
represent the new breed of American percussionists
– classically trained yet experienced in
improvising with jazz, popular and dance styles,
and skilled in the music of other cultures.
TDE audiences are greeted by
a stage overflowing with percussion instruments – some
as familiar as the gong, snare drum or xylophone,
but many virtually unidentifiable. Many are from
remote parts of the planet, some are from the
orchestra, and some are from everyday life --
the kitchen, the junkyard, the toy box too! A
common impression of the Tool and Drum Ensemble
is that it is both classical and global music,
combined with the energy and spontaneity of jazz,
offering performances are both intellectually
stimulating and pure fun.
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an
interactive performance
One
of the musical world’s the greatest
gifts to mankind is the drum. And, in
recent years, the power and mystique
of this most ancient of musical instruments
has touched people around the world.
Drawing on myriad cultures and musical
practices, Todd shares the universal
appeal of drumming – as well as
the fascination of the instrument itself,
in all its forms – with captivated
audiences. Along the way, this percussive/musical
journey stops off at some of the world’s
great drumming communities. Come along
for the ride! |
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Pete
Fine
sitar |
Todd
Hammes
tabla |
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Pete Fine has studied
Sitar and Indian music with Harihar Rao
and Anupa Deogaonkar and has performed
for Indian guitar virtuoso Vishwa Mohan
Bhatt and Pandit Sharda Sahai at private
functions. Besides Sitar, Pete has performed
and recorded many styles of music on guitar
for 35 years, including fusion with Beyond
Words, western rock with The Blue Prairie
Dogs,, the music of Jimi Hendrix with Hendrix
2000, and his own Concerto for Electric
Guitar with the Catalina Chamber Orchestra.
When in Tucson, Todd combines
his virtuosic skills on traditional North Indian tabla with Pete’s
sitar to create a sound that is true to its ancient roots, yet exhilarating
to contemporary Tucson audiences. |
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William
Campbell
keyboards |
Michael
Hester
saxophone |
Todd
Hammes
percussion |
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“…a powerful
and organic combination of textures and
musical creativity that explores the boundaries
of improvised music…music of the
freshest and most exciting variety
– music of the moment.”
Matthew Moon, The Desert Leaf |
Sonoran
Consort: On a morning
in 1998, Michael, Todd and William met in the Sonoran
Desert to compare life experiences and musical
instincts. Relying solely on improvisation, sensitivity
and a wealth of musical experience, a unique and
wondrous music emerged. Mystified by the result – yet
intrigued and confident in their musical direction – each
member of the group realized they were on to
something big. The Sonoran Consort was given life.
The ensemble performed remarkable,
one-of-a-kind concerts and offered uplifting, imaginative
educational programs. In 1999, the Sonoran Consort
was described by Tucson Citizen music critic Daniel
Buckley as "one of the best things that's
happened to Tucson in the last five years."
Conceived as
a way for three friends to pursue improvisation, The Sonoran Consort quickly
grew into one of the most innovative new music ensembles in the Southwest.
Its music was created through improvisational sessions in the practice
and recording studios, as well as on the stage, and its three members
quickly became leading proponents of classical improvisation. They believe,
devoutly, that all musicians can and should experience the joy and invigoration
of spontaneous musical creation.
Like its name,
the Sonoran Consort sought to evoke the spirit of Arizona’s Sonoran
desert where the ensemble originated. Their music reflected powerfully
their connection to the beauty of this remarkable spot on the earth.
While the group went on permanent
hiatus in the spring of 2004, its music lives on through its recordings,
available from iTunes, or directly from Todd.
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