| Ernie Hammes | |
| Birth Date: | 18 August 1968 |
| Birth Place: | Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg |
| Genre: | Jazz |
| Occupation: | Musician, trumpeter, composer, big band director |
| Instrument: | Trumpet |
| Associated Acts: | Maynard Ferguson Luxembourg Jazz Orchestra |
Ernie Hammes (born 1968) is a Luxembourger trumpet virtuoso, arranger, composer, and big band director who is prolific in both jazz and classical idioms. Notably in jazz, Hammes toured with Maynard Ferguson's Big Bop Nouveau band in 2005, alternating between the lead and jazz roles. Hammes has performed in more than twenty-five countries while simultaneously supporting the jazz scene in Luxembourg.
Hammes was born 18 August 1968 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg. He studied at the Conservatories of Esch-sur-Alzette and Metz (:fr:) and later at the Manhattan School of Music and the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Since 1997, Hammes has performed at Birdland and the Blue Note jazz clubs in New York, he has traveled widely to jazz venues and jazz festivals across Europe and North America. Recent performances have included festivals in Chicago, Calgary, Vancouver, Edmonton, New Orleans, Karlsbad (Czech Republic), and Cleveland, Ohio. Hammes has also played at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in London and at the Montreux, Den Haag, and Toronto festivals. The Duke Ellington Orchestra has flourished for over years since the death of the Duke, himself. As of 2013, Hammes is the only European known to have been a member of the Duke Ellington Orchestra from any era.
In his native Luxembourg, Hammes is the founder (1993), director and lead trumpet in the Luxembourg Jazz Orchestra[1] and, since 1987, has been a member of the Musique militaire grand-ducale (the Luxembourg Army Band) where he is lead trumpet and, since 1994, leader of the big band.
As for classical music, he has played with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra and the Latvian Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra.
Classical
1997: Festival, classical trumpet works with orchestra/organ
2006: Trumpet Classics, baroque and romantic works for trumpet/piccolo trumpet and organ as well as with brass quintet
2007: Suite from Freed & Feier, for the Luxembourg Army Concert Band, fireworks, Luxembourg National Day 2007
2010: Delux Trio;
Jazz
1996: Jazz Combos in Concert, Manhattan School of Music, December 2, 1996
1997: Live at Montreux 1997, Manhattan School of Music Jazz Orchestra (Montreux Jazz Festival);
2000: Stepwise, with Bob Mintzer;
2001: Two Sides to Every Story, Derrick James, Jardis (G)20137
2005: Night Lights, Ernie Hammes, Live at the Inouï (L'inouï jazz club, Redange, Luxembourg);
2006: Guided Dream, with David Liebman;
2006: MF Horn VI – Live at Ronnie’s, Maynard Ferguson & Big Bop Nouveau, live recording at the Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, London;
2007: Jazz: Made in Luxembourg, Hammes is composer of "New Capri;"
As sideman with Amina Figarova
2008: Above The Clouds;
2010: Sketches;
2012: Twelve;
2007: Maynard Ferguson Tribute Concert, DVD, Vol. 1 of 2;
Recorded live, September 20, 2006, Touhill Performing Arts Center, University of Missouri–St. Louis
Personnel on Vol. 1 includes: Trumpets — Wayne Bergeron, Carl Fischer, Ernie Hammes, Stan Mark, Eric Miyashiro, Dennis Noday, Lew Soloff, Andrea Tofanelli, Walter White, Patrick Hession, Steve Schankman, Peter Olstad, Serafin Aguilar; saxes — Mike Dubaniewicz (alto), Matt Wallace (tenor), Denis DiBlasio (bari); trombones — Steve Wiest; piano — Christian Jacob, Chip Stevens, Jeff Lashway
2007: Youssou N'Dour – Return to Gorée: a Musical Odyssey, a story of slavery;