Jon Hamar earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Classical Double Bass Performance from Eastern Washington University under the tutelage of Russian bassist Roma Vayspapir. Hamar continued on to the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York where he graduated with a Master’s degree in Jazz and Contemporary Media in 2001. While at Eastman Jon studied with Jeff Campbell and James VanDemark and worked closely with Harold Danko, Fred Sturm and Clay Jenkins.
In 2015 joined the faculty at the Nathalie L. Haslma School of Music (now College of Muisc) at the University of Tennessee where he is Associate Professor of Bass, Jazz and Classical.
Jon began performing with the Jeff Hamilton Trio in July of 2018 and in the same year joined the Clayton Hamilton Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Jeff Hamilton and John Clayton. He is still a member of both groups and maintains a healthy touring schedule.
This past year Jon performed as a headliner at both the International Society of Bassists convention and the Percussive Arts Society convention and was in residence at the University of Louisville and Indiana Univeristy. In 2025 Jon recorded a classical album, an album with the Jeff Hamilton Trio, a trio album with Steve Kovalcheck and Jeff Hamilton, and a trio album with Todd DelGiudice and Obed Calvaire. All four of these projects will be released in 2026.
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Coaching a Young Collegiate Rhythm Section with the University of Tennessee Jazz Faculty
Thursday, January 8, 2026
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM CST
