Born in the tiny rural town of Hiram, Maine, Hammond's musical exploration started off in a shed in the backyard, where severe equipment misuse and a sprinkle of creativity resulted in the discovery of sound-on-sound recording AND distortion! In high school his role as the jazz bass player was quickly secured, and eventually the transformation into a singer / songwriter / guitarist / beatboxer occurred. His performance career blossomed while studying music technology at McGill University in Montreal, where performances included a wide range of groups: Effusion A Cappella at Newfoundland's Festival 500 with Bobby McFerrin and the Montreal International Jazz Festival with Joel Miller, an appearance on Renee Lee's Juno nominated "Maple Grove", and extensively touring the Montreal club scene with bands of many different genres at venues such as La Sala Rossa, Le Swimming, Le Spectrum, The Yellow Door, Zekes Gallery and many more.

Now you can find Hammond solo gigging throughout the East Coast and beyond, playing acoustic guitar, singing and live-looping vocal percussion and harmonies on a unique brand of Jazztastic Hip-Folk. His soulful and melodic vocals fit nicely atop a framework of genre-shifting harmonies to provide a platform for contemplative, uncomplicated lyrics.

Beyond his relentless performance schedule, Ben is also digesting all the new rhythms and melodies absorbed in a recent New Zealand tour, pushing the EP, plugging the website, and writing new tunes. He would be interested in discussing both talent management and record label opportunities for his upcoming full length studio album release and tour. This record will be produced by Downbeat Magazine and AES award-winning producer/engineer Reuben Ghose and will feature both solo acoustic and full band material. Keep your ears open for his new CD and a relocation to Sunny Florida in early 2008.