Emma Csibi

Stu Hamm - Hamming it up

STU HAMM comes from a very musical family - his father was a well known musicologist and his mother was a singer and voice teacher, whilst his oldest brother runs the Ali Akbar Khan School of Indian Music in California. Stu himself has helped to reshape the contemporary concept of the bass guitar as an unaccompanied instrument with the utilization of polyphonic, two-handed tapping, slapping and popping techniques, chords and harmonics and is now heading down under to perform his solo bass clinics.

Since his first ever gig playing a toy drum set in his brother’s first grade band, Stu has played with both Steve Vai and Joe Satriani since their days at the Berkley College of Music in Boston.
What is your take on bass today - specifically from new technology in amps and instruments, to new players on the scene?
“Obviously gear is going to just keep getting better, but the bass is still a pretty basic instrument! You’ve still got to learn to play the dang thing and there is no substitute for good taste - and it’s a nearly impossible thing to teach. Here’s the name of a bass player… Ricky Minor. Who is he??? Just musical director and bassist for American Idol and the High School Musical touring companies. What a well rounded and musical cat…”

Considering the path that you helped to build over a decade ago, do you think that it has become easier for bassists to be seen as a legitimate solo voice today?

“I have worked very hard to be musical in my solo playing and always try to emphasise that it’s just one part of my bass playing career. When I see someone doing a bass solo that is all chops, tapping and slapping but makes no sense musically, I feel partially responsible! It’s not the technique that’s important, it’s what you create by utilising the techniques to create more interesting sounds and colors, which start to tell a story. Every solo piece that I play is about something; a tone poem made to elicit some emotional response from the listener. I am telling a story. But if the story you are trying to tell is ‘Look how fast I can play!’ well, that story gets old really quickly.”

Hamm’s bass clinics will tell the story of his career and particular approach to solo bass playing. There will also be plenty of time for any questions and, of course, plenty of playing.
For those of you who cannot make it to the clinic, here are a few words of advice from Stu for a budding bassist:

• Do not limit yourself to what style of music you can play.
• Practice, practice, practice, and keep your ears open.
• Get into a band and play music with other people and for other people, no matter what style it is.

Go to your local music store and answer ads for country bands and rock bands and get into as many as you can. The important thing is to get out there and play music for people whilst having fun. Don’t just stand there in front of your metronome and play!

Hartke bass amplification presents a Stu Hamm solo bass performance and clinic at The Southern Cross Club, Woden on Monday June 30. Doors from 7.30pm, tickets $10 from Better Music (6282 3199) or Pro Audio (6249 7766).

OXFAM & LOCAL DESIGNERS AND STORES

WHAT A FAIR TRADE FASHION PARADE
WHERE KNIGHTSBRIDGE PENTHOUSE
WHEN SUN MAY 18

Oxfam ACT and Knightsbridge Penthouse have teamed up to bring you a fashion parade with a twist. Modern Morals: A Fair Trade Fashion Parade will promote ethically sourced, locally made and recycled garments from local stores and designers during the Fair Trade Fortnight, with emporiums such as Tree of Life, Ruby & Rogue, Fully Stoked, Eline, Mooble and Grazed Youth participating. “The Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia (TCFUA) estimates there are 300,000 people working at home in small makeshift factories in Australia, making the clothes that you wear,” writes Julian Lee in How Good Are You? That’s just in Australia, so imagine how many others are in worse circumstances around the world. This parade will highlight to consumers and businesses how everyday buying decisions can help to make a world of difference. Modern Morals will be held at Knightsbridge Penthouse on Sunday May 18. Doors open at 5pm. There are only 100 tickets on sale for $25 each, which includes a free sample of a Fair Trade Cocktail, and all proceeds will be going to Oxfam Australia. Tickets from the Oxfam city store or Knightsbridge Penthouse, more info at www.oxfam.org.au .

1STANCE (SYD), DJ CXL (NZ), DIRTY MOB (BRIS)

WHAT MULTI-STATE HIP-HOP COLLAB
WHERE ANU BAR
WHEN FRIDAY MAY 16

New Zealand’s DMC Champion of 2003 and hip-hop heavyweight, DJ CXL, is teaming up with Brisbane based Dirty Mob for an assault on the ANU Bar on Friday May 16. The two are here to support the launch of the club banging single Take 1 by Sydney artist, 1Stance. The three will also unleash their collaboration of Take 1 - Tha Remix due for release later this year. DJ CXL has been terrorising the 1200s for the last decade. After winning the 2003 NZ DMC finals, he then represented NZ at the DMC World finals in London, winning a spot in the top 12. As the sole DJ to support DJ Q-Bert on his NZ tour, it is evident that CXL’s talent is internationally respected. Dirty Mob and CXL have also supported acts such as 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes, Black Eyed Peas, Cypress Hill, RZA and Destiny’s Child, to name a few. Dirty Mob flaunt a unique sense of style, fuelled by a true love of hip-hop. They present anything from hard-edged street anthems to club bangers. For more info, head to www.myspace.com/1stance .