Howard Robert Hammer (March 3, 1930 – December 26, 2021) was an American jazz pianist, composer and arranger.

[2] During the early 1960s, he studied with composer Henry Brant (alongside Tom McIntosh and Julian Priester).

He recorded with Jimmy Knepper,[1] Johnny Hartman,[1] Woody Herman,[1] Clark Terry,[1] and Elvin Jones.

After moving to Los Angeles in 1983, Hammer had an engagement with Slide Hampton, worked as instructor for jazz improvisation at El Camino Community College, and played in the Jimmy Cleveland Octet.

He also arranged dance charts for the Nicholas Brothers, Skip Cunningham, Chester Whitmore, Jacqueline Douget, Deborah Lysholm, and Tim J Hickey.