Tardo Hammer Trio

Tardo Hammer is one of the most respected pianists on the scene today. He has played in bands led by Bill Hardman-Junior Cook, Lou Donaldson, Art Farmer-Clifford Jordan, Lionel Hampton, Vernel Fournier and many more. He's also been accompanist of choice for vocalists including Annie Ross, David Allyn, Abbey Lincoln, Chris Connor, Earl Coleman, Jon Hendricks and Marion Cowings. Tardo has performed at major clubs and venues throughout New York and the USA as well as Europe and Japan and has recorded 6 trio CDs, most recently "Swinging on a Star", released on Cellar Live. As a sideman he can often be heard alongside Annie Ross, Charles Davis, Warren Vache, Grant Stewart and many more. Active as an educator, Hammer is on the faculty of the Lucy Moses School as well as conducting classes and clinics worldwide. Bassist Lee Hudson grew up on Long Island, NY, began playing bass at the age of eighteen and was soon playing with Billy Mitchell, Dave Burns, and other musicians who lived in the area. He studied with jazz bassist Reggie Workman and Walter Botti of the New York Philharmonic. Soon after, Lee began playing and touring with many musicians including Junior Cook, Bill Hardman, Lou Donaldson, Illinois Jacquet, Arthur Prysock, Sal Nistico, Dizzy Gillespie and Charles Davis.Lee has performed throughout North and South America and most of Europe as well as in many major New York jazz clubs including Birdland, Fat Tuesdays, Sweet Basil, Small’s, The Village Gate, The Blue Note, and Iridium.Most recently he has been touring and recording with numerous jazz artists, including appearances at the Kennedy Center, the North Sea Jazz Festival, and festivals in Brazil and Panama A native of Austin, Texas, drummer Keith Balla began playing at the age of 13, inspired by his older brother--also a musician. Soon after, Balla met jazz pianist Marc Devine who encouraged the young drummer, provided him with a wealth of invaluable playing experience, and exposed him to the drummers which continue to be a source of inspiration: Philly Joe Jones, Max Roach, Papa Jo Jones, Kenny Clarke, Art Blakey, Roy Haynes, Sid Catlett, Billy Higgins, and many more. After moving to New York at 17, Balla sought the tutelage of the great drummer/educators Kenny Washington and John Riley, and found equal inspiration in the performances of Leroy Williams, Fukushi Tainaka, Jimmy Wormworth, Jackie Williams, Clifford Barbaro, and the archival recordings of the late Jimmy Lovelace. He quickly found himself immersed in the fertile jazz community of Smalls Jazz Club, acquainting himself with, amongst others: Ari Roland, Sacha Perry, Chris Byars, Zaid Nasser, Tardo Hammer, Grant Stewart, Charles Davis, John Mosca, Luigi and Pasquale Grasso, Stefano Doglioni, William Ash, Vahagn Hayrapetian, Yaala Ballin, Josh Benko, Dwayne Clemons, Alex Hoffman, and William and Peter Anderson. In addition to performing at many of New York's finest jazz venues such as Smoke, Zinc Bar, Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, and Birdland, Balla has travelled worldwide as a member of the Ari Roland Quartet. Since 2008, working under the auspices of the U.S. Department of State, the group has performed in over 50 countries throughout Africa, Europe, East and Central Asia, and the Middle East. Balla has also conducted a number of intensive drum workshops in Cyprus, where the Ari Roland/Chris Byars group administered a bi-communal jazz educational program for over 5 years, from 2008-2013. Contact: keith_balla@yahoo.com