Jon Hamm – Guitar & Upright Bass Instructor

Jon Hamm directs the Symphonic Band, Guitar Ensembles, Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combo, and Pit Orchestra at Ransom Everglades School (RE). Ensembles including the RE Combo, RE Percussion Ensemble, and RE Sax Quartet have earned superior ratings at District and State Festivals over the past several years.  In 2008 and 2009, Jon placed students in the Honor Orchestra of America in Indianapolis, IN.  In 2010, one of his guitar students was named the Downbeat Magazine Outstanding Soloist in the category Blues/Rock/Pop.  Over the past 35 years, Mr. Hamm has performed as a bassist with Jazz legends Louis Bellson and Jimmy Smith; classical artists Emanuel Ax, Jamey Laredo, William Warfield, Misha Dichter, Jerome Hines, PDQ Bach, and Roberta Peters, Grammy- Award-winning songwriter Paul Williams, and composer Aaron Copland.  As a Floridian, Jon has performed as a guitarist, vocalist, and bassist on both coasts, working with artists such as Melton Mustafa, Raul Midon, Pamela Blake (Broadway’s Evita) and drummer John Snider (Eddie Money).  In May 2011, Jon produced a performance featuring his RE Combo, with featured artist Mike Malinin (Goo Goo Dolls).