A bassist whose work with Joe Satriani and Frank Gambale means he needs no introduction, Stuart Hamm has now released a new solo album, entitled “Just Outside Of Normal”, that coincidentally features both guitarists in guest spots. Hamm fans will hear a lot they like on the new disc, which also features a number of other guest artists, such as Robert Fripp.

Dan McAvinchey recently met up with Hamm in cyberspace to get the lowdown on the new album.

Dan McAvinchey: Stu, let’s start with your roots. When did you first get interested in bass, and how did you learn and progress as a player?

Stuart Hamm: I started playing bass when I was 13 years old and wanted to be in my school’s stage band which was a perennial State Champion. Also, I was a big Danny Bonoduce fan from the Partridge Family TV show and songs. My family then moved to a small town in Vermont that didn’t have a very large school band program, so I started gigging in bars, frat houses and ski resorts. When I was 18, I moved to Boston to attend the Berklee College of Music and met Steve Vai and a lot of other musicians with whom I have played with over the years.

Dan McAvinchey: Tell us a little bit about your latest CD, “Just Outside Of Normal”. How did you come up with the concept and songs for the album?

Stuart Hamm: I started work on “Just Outside Of Normal” in 2008 and then got a very late call from Satch to do his tour so that put the whole project back a bit. It’s a collection of pieces that I have been working on that seemed to fit together to take the listener on a little musical trip Stu-style. The title track is an homage to a childhood spent in the Midwest and my brother plays a solo on his Dotar that sounds like a twisted, fretless banjo! Each song had it’s own story of growth which is explained in the liner notes.

Dan McAvinchey: Who are some of the guest artists you worked with on “Just Outside Of Normal” and how did you get them involved?

Stuart Hamm: I am very fortunate to know and have worked with an amazing variety of musicians, so I can write a piece of music with someone in mind. Satch was the obvious choice for “The Obligatory Boogie” and I sent him a demo if “Windsor Mews” to see if he could recommend someone for the track, but I guess that he liked it because he asked to play it himself! The Great Roberto (Mr. Fripp) agreed to donate a soundscape for the project and when I heard Malika sing at a Cirque de Soleil show in Santiago I knew that Bobby had met his match and the whole song took shape. I heard Stanton for the first time live in Bath, UK and had to have him on the CD.

Read the full interview.