Hansford Rowe is a fusion

Jazz fusion

Jazz fusion is a musical fusion genre that developed from mixing funk and R&B rhythms and the amplification and electronic effects of rock, complex time signatures derived from non-Western music and extended, typically instrumental compositions with a jazz approach to lengthy group improvisations,...

 bass guitarist.

Basically a self-taught musician, Rowe played bass in a local New York City

New York City

New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

 band in jazz clubs until he met drummer Pierre Moerlen

Pierre Moerlen

Pierre Moerlen was a French drummer and percussionist, best known for his work with Gong and Mike Oldfield.-Biography:...

. He moved to France

France

The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

 with Moerlen and became a member of Gong

Gong (band)

Gong is a Franco-British progressive/psychedelic rock band formed by Australian musician Daevid Allen. Their music has also been described as space rock. Other notable band members include Allan Holdsworth, Tim Blake, Didier Malherbe, Pip Pyle, Gilli Smyth, Steve Hillage, Francis Moze, Mike Howlett...

, taking part in their transformation into Pierre Moerlen's Gong

Pierre Moerlen's Gong

Pierre Moerlen's Gong is a jazz fusion outfit which is very different from the first incarnation of Gong, the psychedelic space-rock act led by Daevid Allen...

 (PMG) in 1977, playing on their albums Expresso II

Expresso II

Expresso II is an album by Pierre Moerlen's Gong, issued in 1978.Like the other Pierre Moerlen's Gong albums, the album is predominantly jazz-fusion and has little to do with the psychedelic space rock of Daevid Allen's Gong, even though the bands share a common history.Expresso II is a companion...

, Downwind

Downwind (album)

Downwind is an album by Pierre Moerlen's Gong, issued in February, 1979 .Like the other Pierre Moerlen's Gong albums, Downwind is predominantly jazz fusion and has little to do with the psychedelic space rock of Daevid Allen's Gong, even though the bands share a common history...

, Live, Time is the Key

Time is the Key

-Personnel:*Pierre Moerlen – drums, gong, vibraphone, electravibe, marimba, glockenspiel, tympani, darbourka, synthesizers *Hansford Rowe – bass , acoustic guitar , bass synthesizer *Bon Lozaga – guitar with...

and Leave It Open

Leave It Open (album)

-Track listing:-Personnel:* Francois Chausse – percussion* Delmelza – percussion* Brian Holloway – guitar, rhythm guitar* Charlie Mariano – saxophone* Pierre Moerlen – drums, gong, rhythm guitar, keyboards, vibraphone, synthesizer bass, polymoog...

. In 1986, he appeared on a re-united PMG album Breakthrough and in 1988 on Second Wind and Full Circle Live '88.

In 1994, he was co-founder of Gongzilla with other former PMG members and continues to work with the band.

In 1999 he released a solo album recorded in Quebec and New York City entitled "No Other". The album was recorded with long-time compatriot Bon Lozaga (guitar) and other guest musicians.

External links

• http://www.hansfordrowe.com
• http://www.myspace.com/hansfordrowe
• http://www.myspace.com/gongzilla

Sources and references

• http://calyx.club.fr/mus/rowe_hansford.html