Jan Hammer

the world's most famous Czech musician ever. Born in Prague 1948, in his age of 14 he had a jazz band Junior Trio with brothers Alan & Miroslav Vitous (later Weather Report bg player). Studied theory and composition at Prague Musical Academy. In 1968 left to USA. After studies at Berklee School of Music, he played with Sarah Vaughan. In 1971 he became a member of Mahavishnu Orchestra. After 1973 he worked with many famous musicians playing jazz, rock and pop (Santana, Jeff Beck, Al DiMeola, Deep Purple) and made solo records. Heading more and more to movie soundtracks, becoming famous as the author of the music for the TV police-series Miami Vice, which brought him two Grammies in 1985. Since that, he works in his own recording studio, composing both fusion music for fun and pop music on purpose of movies, commercials and video games.

Discography (selected)

Jan Hammer Trio-Maliny Maliny (s českým basistou J.Mrázem a německým bubeníkem Cees See, MPS 1968)

Like Children (Nemperor 1975)

First Seven Days (Nemperor 1975)

Oh Yeah? (Nemperor 1976)

Jeff Beck w/ Jan Hammer Group Live (Epic 1977)

>Melodies (Nemperor 1977)

Black Sheep (Nemperor 1979)

Hammer (Asylum 1979)

Miami Vice (MCA 1985)

Live In New York (Red Gate Records 2008)

Sample (from JH official site): Crockett's Theme (The Best Of Miami Vice, 2004)

Links: Official J.H. Site; Junior Trio; Vlasta Pruchova