Acrpost: A Project of the Pacific Association of Artist Run Centres

Event Description

John Hammond
Friday, March 12, 2010
Hermanns Jazz Club, 753 View St., Victoria
Doors 6:00pm - Showtime 8:00pm
Tickets: $32.50 + s/c
Available at: Lyle's Place 770 Yates St., Ditch Records 635 Johnson St. and online at www.hightideconcerts.net

ALSO John Hammond
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Nanaimo Entertainment Centre, 46 Nicol St., Nanaimo
Doors 7:30pm - Showtime 8:00pm
Tickets: $30.50 + s/c
Available at: Port Theatre Box Office 250-754-8550, Music Maxx 620A Comox Rd. and online at www.hightideconcerts.net

John Hammond
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Nanaimo Entertainment Centre, 46 Nicol St., Nanaimo
Doors 7:30pm - Showtime 8:00pm
Tickets: $30.50 + s/c
Available at: Port Theatre Box Office 250-754-8550, Music Maxx 620A Comox Rd. and online at www.hightideconcerts.net

John Hammond websites: www.johnhammond.com & www.myspace.com/johnhammondblues

JOHN HAMMOND

John Hammond, a Grammy Award-winning blues guitarist and a long-time icon of the music industry, will play at a special benefit concert at Hermanns Jazz Club, Friday, March 12, 2010.

Hammond comes from a re-markable musical lineage. His father, John H. Hammond, worked as a talent scout for years and, because of the many careers he helped to launch, is considered one of the most influential figures in 20th century popular music. Those he discovered or helped along the way include Benny Goodman, Billie Holiday, Count Basie, Pete Seeger, Aretha Franklin, George Benson, Leonard Cohen, Bruce Springsteen and Stevie Ray Vaughan. His discovery of Bob Dylan was known as “Hammond’s folly” at Columbia Records — until Dylan’s career exploded.

John Hammond Jr. “is one degree of separation from virtually every musician who influenced anyone ages 30 to 60 who listens to music,” said Island singer/songwriter Pete Droge, who recalled one Hammond album — “I Can Tell,” produced in 1967 — that he “couldn’t get enough of” when he was a kid.

“He did a cover of Willie Dixon’s ‘Shake for Me,’ which I listened to over and over again. Duane Allman (Allman Brothers) plays slide guitar on that cut, and it may have been his finest moment.”

Lest you think Hammond is a blast from the past, his most recent album, “Push Comes to Shove” (2007), was named international blues album of the year by Rhythms magazine and a top 10 selection in Amazon.com’s best music selections in the blues and folk category. It has received glowing reviews from The Washington Post, American Songwriter and many more.

The disc was produced by longtime Hammond fanatic G Love (Garret Dutton III) and features Stephen Hodges on drums, Marty Ballou on bass and Bruce Katz on piano and organ. Hammond wrote an unprecedented five original songs for the album, along with new renditions of tunes by Little Walter, Junior Wells, Tom Waits and more.