Looking Back On Tomorrow

Fred Hamilton is a guitarist, bassist, composer, recording artist, author, clinician, and professor in the Jazz Studies Division of the University of North Texas (in Denton, Texas, near Dallas - his home since 1989). He has recorded one album as a leader (Looking Back on Tommorow) with David Friesen and Ed Soph, numerous albums as a sideman and is a founding member of the Earl Harvin Trio, which has recorded four albums. Fred is also an original member of the ensemble Brahma, featuring Poovalur Srinivasan on mridangam, Ed Smith on vibes, and Jamal Mohamed on percussion. Brahma plays a fusion of jazz, Indian, Arabic and Balinese styles. In this ensemble Fred plays banjo, acoustic guitar, and the Hindustani slide guitar. He has played bass or guitar with visiting artists such as Bill Frisell, Joe Lovano, Cedar Walton, Mike Stern, George Garzone, David Liebman, Marvin Stamm, Bill Mays, and Dave Pietro. During the summer, Fred teaches and performs at the Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshops, held at the University of Louisville, and the University of North Texas Combo Camp. In previous years he was on the summer faculty of the Mile High Jazz Camp at the University of Colorado, the Great Plains Jazz Camp at Emporia State University and has taught workshops at the University of Washington, University of Southern California, the University of Arkansas and others. He has held positions on the faculties of Concordia College in Montreal (1984-85), St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia (1982-84), and Bowling Green State University in Ohio (1979-82). While in graduate school at the University of Northern Colorado, he taught jazz courses as a graduate teaching assistant and was one of the first handful of writers chosen to begin the UNC Jazz Press. Initially, compositions for combo and big band and later for guitar ensemble were included in the catalogue. He also did a tour of duty in the U.S. Air Force from 1972-76 as a guitarist and arranger with the NORAD Command Band. For a more in-depth biography of Fred Hamilton as archived from the University of North Texas go to: http://www.music.unt.edu/jazz/faculty/hamilton.html "What a velvet touch! Hamilton's round tone, probing lines, and compelling jazz originals make a delicious trio album... Though he never calls attention to his chops, you can tell he's got a monster set-everything's splendidly articulated and swinging. It's wonderful to hear head, hands, and heart so in sync." -– Guitar Player Magazine