Stu Hamm

Through his innovative work as a solo artist and his contributions as a sideman to Joe Satriani and Steve Vai, STU HAMM has firmly established himself as one of the most influential electric bassists of the past half-century. Extending the non-traditional function of the electric bass previously revolutionized by Jaco Pastorius and Stanley Clarke in the 1970s, Hamm 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. Although Hamm certainly wasn’t the first bass player to debut during the 1980s and employ an unorthodox approach to playing the electric bass, he was undoubtedly at the forefront of his generation who effectively fused the application of these unconventional techniques.

STU HAMM is a world class, utterly entertaining story-teller, legendary bass guitar icon, known also for playing and recording with some of the greatest guitarists of the recent decades: Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Greg Howe, Alex Skolnick, Richie Kotzen, Mike Keneally, Allan Holdsworth, Frank Gambale, Michael Schenker, Richie Kotzen. and many others. Stu has been a monumental influence in jazz/rock style for many bass players worldwide.

STU HAMM is endorsed by Warwick basses, MarkBass amps and GHS strings.

SONS OF RA

Hailing from the underground scene of Chicago, this eclectic ensemble draws inspiration from avant garde music, classic jazz fusion with post-progressive sensibilities, infusing their music with cosmic vibrations and experimental fervor. Drummer Michael Rataj lays an energetic and ever-shifting rhythmic framework for tenor saxophonist/bassist Keith Wakefield and guitarist Erik Oldman to weave angular, contrapuntal melodies with ethereal textures augmented by loops and synthesizer explorations. Sons of Ra are not merely a band; they are sonic sorcerers, weaving spells of experimental brilliance that transcend the boundaries of traditional genres.

They’ve shared the stage with such artists as Stu Hamm, Sonar, Chester Thompson & Alphonso Johnson, and Consider the Source.

Sons of Ra released their EP “Cognitive” in 2020 and are currently in production for a six-part suite “Tropic of Cancer” and their first full-length release “Standard Deviation”, both planned for release in 2024.

Personnel
Erik Oldman: Guitar/Bass/Synth
Keith Wakefield: Bass Guitar/Tenor Saxophone/Synth
Michael Rataj: Drums