A back-to-basics record that flows forth with natural ease, ‘Follow Your Heart’ is Ross Hammond practicing what he’s preaching with the title.

The spiritually soothing music of Sameer Gupta and Ross Hammond’s “Upward” is a simple pleasure in any culture.

Ross Hammond’s bare interpretation of “You Are My Sunshine” is an intimacy that comes from stark simplicity.

S. Victor Aaron picks the best of 2014’s fusion jazz, including Nels Cline Singers, Jaco Pastorius, Elizabeth Shepherd and others.

S. Victor Aaron picks the best of 2014’s avant-garde and experimental jazz, including Roscoe Mitchell, Jimmy Giuffre, Wadada Leo Smith and others.

We review ‘Blues and Daily News’ by Ross Hammond and Grant Calvin Weston, a creative guitar/drums improv record.

Ross Hammond typically invests a lot into his recording projects, as we witnessed with instinctual rock-jazz excursions like 2012’s Adored and 2013’s Cathedrals. You May Also Like: Ross Hammond – ‘Roll Forward’ (2022) Catherine Sikora and Ethan Winogrand – ‘Things To Do In Paris’ (2020) Ross Hammond – ‘Riding DragonsRead More

Ross Hammond made a record last year that I dug the hell out of. Adored is raw rock-jazz that I found very instinctual because everyone in his band are seasoned jazz cats who cross over to rock for fun. You May Also Like: Ross Hammond and Jon Bafus – MasonicRead More

<<< Part Two, Mainstream and Modern Jazz ||| Part 4, Fusion Jazz >>> In continuing with a long-held tradition, I’ve parsed out the jazz that goes avant-garde from the more conventional stuff. You May Also Like: S. Victor Aaron’s Best of 2015 (Part 4 of 4, Fusion Jazz): John McLaughlin,Read More

Earlier this year, “Sacramento’s secret weapon” (quoting myself) made a wonderful out-jazz quintet record featuring saxophonist Vinny Golia. You May Also Like: Ross Hammond and Kevin Corcoran – ‘Music For Lighthouses 2’ (2021) Ross Hammond – ‘Roll Forward’ (2022) Ross Hammond and Jon Bafus – Masonic Lawn (2017)