|
Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZHAMMER, Jan(b 17 April '48, Prague, Czechoslovakia) Keyboards, drums, composer in fusion/AOR mode. Played with Miroslav Vitous in high school; won competition in Vienna '66, scholarship to Berklee; to USA as Russians invaded. With Mahavishnu Orchestra, then Billy Cobham's Spectrum '70-- 75; records with Stanley Clarke, Santana (on drums), with guitarist John Abercrombie on ECM, Jeremy Steig on Capitol, Elvin Jones on Blue Note, etc. Own LPs incl. Make Love '68 on MPS; The First Seven Days '75, Oh Yeah '76, Melodies '77 on Nemporor/Atlantic; Time Is Free '76 on Vanguard; Black Sheep '78 on Asylum; Live with Jeff Beck '77; Hip Address '80 with David Earle Johnson and Steig on CMP, Untold Passion '82 and Here To Stay '83 on CBS with Neal Schon (see Journey). Virtuosity and rare ability to make sense of rock-jazz fusion asymmetry had established his influence when his Miami Vice TV theme was a no. 1 hit '85 in USA. The Early Years on Nemperor was a compilation of '74--9 work. Later albums were Escape From Television '88 on MCA, City Slicker on Absolute with James Young, Beyond The Mind's Eye '92 and Drive '95 on Miramar. |