Jan Hammer Group – Live In New York (2008)

The Czech-American jazz pianist, exceptional keyboardist and composer Jan Hammer achieved worldwide fame primarily for his music for films and television series.

In 1984, he was commissioned to write the title theme and background music for the new American crime series “Miami Vice”. In November 1985, the Miami Vice soundtrack stormed to the top of the US Billboard charts. With more than four million records sold (the CD had just conquered the market), the album went four times platinum in the USA. At the Grammy Awards in February 1986, Hammer's “Miami Vice Theme” received two awards. The Czech-born musician had previously made a name for himself as a member of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, as a Minimoog player on Joni Mitchell's “Mingus” album and through his collaboration with musicians such as Jerry Goodmann, Jeff Beck, Al Di Meola, Journey guitarist Neal Schon and John Abercrombie.

From 1975, he also toured successfully with the Jan Hammer Group. With excellent musicians such as bassist Fernando Saunders (Lou Reed, Suzanne Vega, among others), drummer Tony Smith from the Latin rock band Malo and, above all, violinist Steve Kindler (Mahavishnu Orchestra), Hammer laid the foundations for a unique, spacy, psychedelic fusion. Best experienced at their 1975 concert in New York, now finally available on record.