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Todd with Pandero Todd’s Solo Performance
Tool and Drum Ensemble
The Power of the Drum
The Kokopelli Sound
North Indian Classical Music
Sonoran Consort

Todd's Solo Performance

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.


Tool and Drum Ensemble
An innovative percussion group

Along with Todd, performers include Homero Ceron, Paul Gibson, Brian Harris, Colin Jones-Weinert, Dan Kruse, Doug Smith, and Dr. Norm Weinberg.

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.

Drum Pic

The Power of the Drum
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!

The Kokopelli Sound
Kokopelli Sound Photo
Todd Hammes
percussion
Matt Mitchell
guitar
Vince Redhouse
Native American flute and
tenor saxophone
For more information on The Kokopelli Sound, visit www.vinceredhouse.com.
The Kokopelli Sound (TKS), led by Grammy nominee Vince Redhouse, is inspired by the magic of the Southwest and the mystique of its traditional music. This inspiring ensemble melds the alluring songs of the Native American with the bold rhythms and harmonies of the day when Earth and Sky first met.

Kokopelli, the mythical figure of Native American folklore, speaks of an artistry that is never harnessed or captured, and suggests a time of celebration in the company of others. The Kokopelli Sound is that music that calls to us as we are embraced by the Southwest landscape and its rich culture.

Whatever your musical tastes, your spirit will resonate with the beauty of the
Desert Southwest and its magical sounds.


Pete Fine
sitar
Todd Hammes
tabla

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.

The combination of Pete’s sitar and Todd Hammes’ virtuosic skills on traditional North India tabla creates a sound that is true to its ancient roots, yet exhilarating to contemporary Tucson audiences.

Sonoran Consort
Sonoran Consort Photo
William Campbell
keyboards
Michael Hester
saxophone
Todd Hammes
percussion
“…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 wass created through improvisational sessions in the practice and recording studios, as well as on the stage, and the three fast 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 which these three musicians call home. 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.

 
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TODD HAMMES
Percussionist / Composer
todd-at-toddhammes.com

© 2006 Todd Hammes and OMRadio.com