Ernest Hammes is a trumpet instrumentalist born on 18th August 1968 in Esch/Alzette, Luxembourg Grand-Duchy. He began to play trumpet at the Conservatory Esch/Alzette in Luxembourg, then at the Conservatory Metz in France and completed his studies at the Manhattan School of Music, New York. His teachers were Joel Sand, Lew Soloff, Claudio Roditi... As a classical trumpeter he has performed with the BBC Wales Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre Philharmonique de Luxembourg, Orchestre Symphonique et Lyrique Nancy, Kosice Chamber Orchestra, Latvian Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, Trio project with Paul Mootz and Carlo Hommel performing new works for that ensemble. As a jazz musician he has performed with Paul Anka, Youssou N’Dour, Chaka Khan, The Supremes, Diane Schuur, Maynard Ferguson & Big Bop Nouveau, The Dizzy Gillespe All Stars, The Duke Ellington Orchestra, Carla Bley & Steve Swallow Big Band, Brussels Jazz Orchestra, Slide Hampton, James Moody, Randy Brecker, Lew Soloff, Claudio Roditi, Bob Mintzer, Dave Liebman, Amina Figarova, Idris Muhammad, Claude Bolling, Bleschchaden, Joe Roccisano, Occisano Nonet, Frank Nimsgern, Europool Jazz Orchestra, Manhattan School of Music Jazz Orchestra, Ernie Hammes Group, Bob Mintzer... He has been also lead-trumpet with the Manhattan School of Music Jazz Orchestra featuring Michael and Randy Brecker, Claudio Roditi, Bobby Shew, Frank Foster, Frank Wess and Jon Hendricks. Ernie has played in many clubs, venues, festivals in France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Finland, England, Greece, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Canada and USA. Ernie has an amazing finger dexterity and chops.
Source: Ana Isabel Ordonez
Awards:
1997 Downbeat Student Music Award for jazz ensemble and big band.