Stu Hamm - Bx3 Feature

Darrin: Hey Stu, sorry to have to grab you so early in the day 

Stu: Ah, It’s not THAT early in the day. About halfway through I guess.

Darrin: Let me start with the easy stuff.  You were the creator, or initiator of the Bx3 project.  How have you found it so far?

Stu: This tour is going great. We have had sell out crowds the past few nights, wherever we have gone, people have been more than enthusiastic.  It has just been getting better and better, and we are having a blast.

Darrin: You are in Baltimore tonight?

Stu: Yeah, and then I believe we are off to New York City and Boston.

Darrin: Do you have a favorite city that you have hit yet?

Stu: Ah, favorite city. Let me think about that. Well, we had some outstanding crowds in places like Oklahoma City, Kansas City was awesome, and Seattle and Minneapolis were incredible too. We were also pretty lucky with the weather. We came out of Pittsburg the other day, and the weather was pretty nasty, but not too bad now.

Darrin: Let’s go back a bit.  What was it like to work on such ground breaking albums like Flexable and Passion and Warfare with Steve Vai?

Stu: It was great.  I met Steve way back when we were 18 year old kids at the Berkeley School of Music. I played a bunch of gigs, and did some stuff with Zappa, and eventually I moved out to California, after living in Boston and going to college. I have known Steve forever. I do not know him for as the big rock star, but as Steve from back in the school days. It was the same with Joe (Satriani).  When I first met Joe, it was when he was making Surfing with the Alien.  But it was great.  I was there for a lot of groundbreaking stuff that was recorded. I was at ground zero playing bass.

Darrin: Your first solo album, Radio Free Albemuth. It was almost schizophrenic with the mix of genres and styles that are encompassed in the album.  Was there a certain genre you wanted to lean towards, or were you aiming for that kind of variety of songs?

Stu: I like all kinds of styles of music. When I make a record, I like it to be a kind of sonic adventure for listeners.  For me, even if it is a cool jazz record, every song tends to be the same. I like to have that kind of twist on my records. It is also a good way to get some variety as a bass player.

Darrin: Do you prefer to work as a solo artist, a sideman in a band, or like in a project like Bx3?

Stu: I really try to structure my playing with a lot of different stuff. I like to switch gears and do all kinds of playing. Whether I record a solo album, and them take time to work on a project like this or another.  It all depends what is going on. It definitely keeps me fresh.

Darrin: With your 2 Live Stu project, and Bx3, have you delved at all into digital recording, to perhaps track on the road or capture anything live?

Stu: I am somewhat one minded in that category. I bring my laptop on tour, for some games and email and stuff like that, I have a little studio at home that I use, but I am just going to pay somebody, that already has that learning curve, than spending time staring at a computer screen trying to figure out what I am doing. The 2 Live Stu project, we had a really good live sound, and facilities to record it, and it came out great, and did not need to have Protools to suck the life out of it. It came out really good.

Darrin: You are one of the pioneers of the slappin’ and tapping, how do you feel that bass technique has evolved, and stands today?

Stu: It is just so ever changing. The pendulum is always swinging one direction or another.  There is always going to be someone that comes along, and shows you something new, or take what you do and put their own interesting take on it. And I can not wait to hear that guy.

Darrin: Is your bass Mel, still the go to guy on gig nights?

Stu: Well, Mel had a meeting of the headstocks with Billy’s bass. It happened in Chicago. It has a huge notch out of it, and almost took one of the tuning pegs off. Fortunately, Bill, Mr Fixit was here to make it hold together. And the truss rod is just falling out of the back of that thing. I think he is on his last legs. But it is still my favorite bass. I am literally going to play it until it falls apart.

Darrin: What are you playing through for amps these days?

Stu: I am back with Hartke, and I am using the 3500 head, and it just sounds great. The new rig sounds really good. My sound has never been this good. My chops have never been so good either, my fingers are strong, from playing night after night.

Darrin: Are you looking forward to this leg of the tour coming to a close, and getting back home to work on some other stuff?

Stu: I am heading back to LA to do a solo concert for this benefit for a scholarship. I am going to bring my daughter with me to accompany me on that. Then I head to Frankfurt, for a bunch of solo performances. And then it is home to relax for a little bit. Then I will probably start work on the next record.

Darrin: I guess being out on the road can be tough as a family guy.

Stu: It is, especially with my daughter. But hey, I only have 4 days to go, and then I can get back there to see them.

Darrin: I hear ya.  It is important to keep the pay check rolling in.

Stu: **laughs**

Darrin: Ok Stu, I know you are getting close to your venue, and I thank you for letting me sneak a few minutes with you on the way to your Baltimore show. We should try to get together for a longer talk next time.

Stu: You bet, get my email from **** and let‘s get together when I am back home for sure. Hopefully we will get the show up your way in Vancouver there too!

Darrin: That would be great.  Take care Stu.