Hamilton Sterling, a brief biography…
Hamilton Sterling (Photo: Michael Dressel)
Hamilton Sterling began playing electric bass 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 over two summers, studying with Carol Kaye. Hamilton played bass in the Young Sounds Jazz Ensemble, an all-star big band founded by the Phoenix Musician’s Union, and entered the Allstate Orchestra as Principal Bassist his senior year. While in high school he performed with professional jazz ensembles that included Lewis Nash, Theresa Dimond, Joseph Tapia, Dick Weller, and Charlie Argersinger, and later with Allan Chase, Keith Miles, Ted Goddard, Charles Lewis, Prince Shell, Francine Reed, Dave Cook, and Tom Ferguson.
Hamilton received a four-year scholarship to attend Arizona State University’s music school in Jazz and Classical performance. In symposia and master classes he was directed by Quincy Jones, sat-in with Richie Beirach and Dave Liebman, and played a trumpet symposium and concert with Lew Soloff.
After completing his degree, he moved to San Francisco and set music aside to concentrate on breaking into film. To date he has worked on over eighty feature films. (see the Film link).
While working on Christopher 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. Rise and Fall is Hamilton’s latest album.
All music © and ℗ 2013 by Hamilton Sterling, Helikon Sound, BMI and Jimmy Haslip, LaViera Music, BMI. All rights reserved.
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