Born in the tiny town of Hiram, Maine and graduated from McGill University in Montreal with a degree in Music Technology, Ben Hammond has since been touring extensively (from his home in rural New England all the way to New Zealand) and playing his unique brand of Acoustic Soul-Pop at a variety of festivals (Montreal Jazz Festival, Portland Old Port Fest) and hundreds of venues (Montreal's Sala Rossa and Metropolis, Town Hall in NYC, Sarasota's Beach Club).
In 2008 Ben completed his full length studio album "[Reasonably] Honest" with a full band and Downbeat Magazine award winning mixer Reuben Ghose, which has garnered him radio interviews and airplay across the Eastern United States and Canada. On June 10th, 2008 Ben played to a sold out crowd (200+ people, 17$ tickets, no opener) for his official hometown album launch at the breathtaking Stone Mountain Arts Center in Maine, which has featured such greats as Bela Fleck and the Indigo Girls. In just over one year since it's release, "[Reasonably] Honest" has sold over 1,800 copies and continues to sell while Ben prepares for the next album (a live solo concert which will included a companion DVD).
Schooled in jazz, raised on rock, immersed in soul, and fascinated with music the world over, Ben can just as easily be found strumming and singing a ballad as he can live looping an a cappella improvisation of throat singing, beatboxing, and harmonized scatting. When performing his composed material, either as a soloist or with his quartet, the music features Ben's engaging, soulful vocals weaved within a framework of genre-shifting instrumentation, providing a platform for his subtle, contemplative lyrics.
Ben Hammond
Live Shows: Vocals, Acoustic and Electric Guitar, Vocal Percussion and Live-Looping .
In Studio: All of the above plus Bass, Keyboards, Theremin, Didgeridoo, whatever else I can get my hands on...
Touring Band
Gabe Nespoli: Keys.
Danny Berglund: Drums.
Kelly Muse: Bass.
And sometimes:
Kevin Warren: Drums (in Montreal). Mick Mendelsohn: Bass (in Montreal).
Ben and the Key Rats (Mojo Trio)
Cort Farris: Drums, Steel Pan, Percussion.
Daniel Brock: Bass.
And sometimes:
Garrett Dawson: Drums. Sandi Grecco: Drums, Bass.
Pedro Arevalo: Bass.
Studio Band for "[Reasonably] Honest"
Gabe Nespoli: Piano, Rhodes, Organ.
Nico Dann: Drums.
Dan Fortin: Bass.
Also Featuring on "[Reasonably] Honest"
Jon Lindhorst: Sax. Mäike: Trumpets. Kweku Sam Kwofie: Rap, Backing Vocals. Lindsay Brie Hamilton: Backing Vocals. Zach Finkelstein: Backing Vocals. Gabi Epstein: Backing Vocals. Scott McGuffin: Bodhran. Jeremy Cain: Elec. Guitar. Mikael Tobias: Elec. Guitar. Mick Mendelsohn: Elec. Guitar. Reuben Ghose: Co-production, Mixing Engineer.
Former Members for «No History Sessions»
Sedgie Ogilvy: Vocals, Keys.
Kevin Fallis: Bass.
Paul Lambert: Guitars.
Anita Eccleston: Trumpet.
Jason Sharpe: Bari Sax.
Andrea Dawes: Violin, Viola.
Jeremy and Jason: Violas.
Jess Billings-White: Cello.
Ben has collaborated with the following groups:
Ranee Lee on Juno-nominated CD "Maple Grove".
Joel Miller and Mandala at a sold-out concert in the Montreal International Jazz Festival.
Ardesco A Cappella
Effusion A Cappella