Hamilton Sterling, a brief biography…
Hamilton Sterling (Photo: Michael Dressel)
Hamilton Sterling began playing bass guitar in elementary school. He was very fortunate to have had committed music teachers in a time when music and art were funded in the public schools. He attended Dick Grove Jazz workshops two summers running, studying with Carol Kaye. By high school he was the bass player in one of the first Young Sounds Jazz Ensembles, an all-star high school big band founded by the Phoenix Musician’s Union. By the age of sixteen he was performing with professional jazz ensembles. He played with Lewis Nash, Theresa Dimond, and Dick Weller, and later with Allan Chase, Keith Miles, Ted Goddard, Charles Lewis, Prince Shell, and Dave Cook.
Hamilton received a four-year scholarship to attend Arizona State University’s music school, which offered one of the first Bachelor of Arts in Jazz and Classical performance. These were some of the first courses offered by working jazz musicians as jazz was brought into the academic realm. He got a chance to be directed by Quincy Jones and sat-in with Richie Beirach and Dave Liebman, and played a trumpet symposium with Lew Soloff.
After completing his degree, he moved to San Francisco and set music aside to concentrate on breaking into film (see the Film link).
While working on Chris Guest’s “Best In Show” he was prompted to begin playing again by the five bass players in attendance. He’s very happy he did.
Hamilton met Jimmy Haslip and together they created Migration. Migration represents a unique blending of music and sound. With this palette, Hamilton feels he’s found a creative home. More pieces are planned.
Jimmy Haslip’s websites:
www.jimmyhaslip.com
www.myspace.com/jimmyhaslipbass
www.yellowjackets.com
All music © and ℗ 2010 by Hamilton Sterling, Helikon Sound, BMI and Jimmy Haslip, LaViera Music, BMI. All rights reserved.