I wanted to get Stu in on the 7 Questions project from the beginning because he is such a great guy to work with and his playing is beyond comprehension.  In between tours with guys like Joe Satriani, Frank Gambale and his incredibly busy clinic schedule, he was gracious enough to participate.

Describe your first experience playing music.
I got a drumset from Sears for Xmas when I was maybe 4…a bass drum with sailboats on it, a snare, triangle and woodblock.My parents woke me up to play at the stroke of midnight at their new Years Eve Party

What has been your most significant musical experience?
Playing at the Oaklawn Illinois State Jazz Band competition with the Edison Middle School Stage band…a band director from another school came up to me after we played an told me that I had a special gift for the bass and to stick with it,,,that meant so much to me when I was 14 years old…

What is the best advice on pursuing a career in music you were ever given?
Practice a lot and be original

What is your favorite sound?
The sound of my wife and daughter laughing

Name some of your biggest non-musical influences.
Philip K. Dick, William Gibson, Buddha, Larry Bird

What is the most memorable concert you ever attended?
When I heard Dollar Brand (Abdullah Ibrahim) play when i lived in Germany in 1981….it activated something in my genes, and i realized that we all came from Africa long ago, and I remembered it.

Put your iPod on shuffle and name the first 5 songs that come up.
prelude 8 in D sharp..Glen Gould plays the well tempered clavier book 2
no9s Vamos Juntos by Jaguares
I get a kick out of you…Clifford Brown Fortune teller…the who live at Leeds
bass blues…Carole Kaye..the first lady on bass

Keep up with Stu at stuarthamm.net