Background
Hammes was born 18 August 1968 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.
Hammes was born 18 August 1968 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.
He studied at the Conservatories of Esch-sur-Alzette and Metz (:fr:) and later at the Manhattan School of Music and the Berklee College of Music in Boston.
Notably in jazz, Hammes toured with Maynard Ferguson"s Big Bop Nouveau band in 2005, alternating between the lead and jazz roles. Hammes has performed in more than twenty-five countries while simultaneously supporting the jazz scene in Luxembourg. Since 1997, Hammes has performed at Birdland and the Blue Note jazz clubs in New York, he has traveled widely to jazz venues and jazz festivals across Europe and North America.
Recent performances have included festivals in Chicago, Calgary, Vancouver, Edmonton, New Orleans, Karlsbad (Czechoslovakian Republic), and Cleveland, Ohio.
Hammes has also played at Ronnie Scott"s Club in London and at the Montreux, Den Haag, and Toronto festivals. The Duke Ellington Orchestra has flourished for over forty-one years since the death of the Duke, himself.
As for classical music, he has played with the British Broadcasting Corporation National Orchestra of Wales, the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra and the Latvian Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra. 2007: Maynard Ferguson Tribute Concert, Digital Video Disc, Volume
1 of 2; Online Computer Library Center 180193073 Recorded live, September 20, 2006, Touhill Performing Arts Center, University of Missouri–Saint Louis Personnel on Volume
1 includes: Trumpets — Wayne Bergeron, Carl Fischer, Ernie Hammes, Stan Mark, Eric Miyashiro, Dennis Noday, Lew Soloff, Andrea Tofanelli, Walter White, Patrick Hession, Steve Schankman, Peter Olstad, Serafin Aguilar. Saxes — Mike Dubaniewicz (alto), Matt Wallace (tenor), Denis DiBlasio (bari). Trombones — Steve Wiest.
Piano — Christian Jacob, Chip Stevens, Jeff Lashway 2007: Youssou North"Dour – Return to Gorée: a Musical Odyssey, a story of slavery.
Online Computer Library Center 495202223 and 488750568.
As of 2013, Hammes is the only European known to have been a member of the Duke Ellington Orchestra from any era.