DOUG HAMMOND QUARTET

Maria Grand, tenor sax, CH
Stephane Payen, alto sax, France
Jon Sass, tuba, USA
Doug Hammond, drums/voice

The new quartet made its introduction in 2013 with Stéphane Payen (alto sax), Maria Grand (tenor sax) and the great Jon Sass (tuba). It was a dramatic re-introduction of Hammond's compositions which forges a new chapter with creative and exciting results. Now going forward to new heights for 2015, we have added another young player, for more poetic ventures into the future. Hammond said this is the first time in over 30 years—since the Steve Coleman and Muneer Abdul Fataah days—that it's again back on track for a chanting in musical ventures.

Maria Grand
is 23 years old and was born in Geneva, where she grew up in a musical family and started playing saxophone at the age of 10. She moved to New York to pursue music at 18 and has been a member of the Doug Hammond Quartet since 2013. She has toured and played with Roman Filiu, Antoine Roney and appears in several of Steve Coleman's projects and on his upcoming large ensemble album in 2015.

Stephane Payen
Stéphane began learning music at the age of 15 with Eric Régnier. Over the years tuition continued with Benoît Delbecq, Serge Adam and Eric Barret. Meanwhile, he strengthened his training during special programmes with George Russell, Dave Liebman, Richie Beirach and Steve Coleman. In 1993 he studied at Berklee College of Music (Boston) with Bill Pierce, David Locke, Steve Prosser. From 1996 to 1999 he was part of Tribe of Geoffroy De Masure. From 2000 to 2004 he was a member of the Hask Collective.

Jon Sass
Jon Sass is known as a true groove master and to be one of most creative tuba players today. He has played with David Murray, Henry Threadgill, Howard Johnson, Wolfgang Puschnig, The Vienna Art Orchestra, Butch Morris, Erika Stucky, Ray Anderson, James Spaulding, Leon Thomas, Michele Rosewoman, Frank Foster and a many, many more.