Iain Ballamy

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Iain Ballamy
Iain Ballamy.jpg
Background information
Born (1964-02-20) 20 February 1964 (age 57)
Guildford, Surrey, England
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Musician, composer
InstrumentsSaxophone
Years active1980s–present
LabelsBasho, Rune Grammofon, Editions EG, Feral, B&W Music
Associated actsAnorak, Balloon Man, ACME, Food for Quartet, The Little Radio, Loose Tubes, June Tabor, Bill Bruford's Earthworks, Django Bates' Human Chain, Delightful Precipice, Billy Jenkins' Voice of God
Websitewww.ballamy.com

Iain Ballamy (born 20 February 1964) is a British composer and saxophonist.[1] He is considered one of the greatest modern jazz saxophonists.[2]

Career[]

Ballamy was born in Guildford, Surrey,[1] and educated at George Abbot School, Guildford, from 1975 to 1980. He then studied Musical Instrument Technology from 1980 to 1982 at Merton College. He took piano lessons from age of 6 to 14.

He discovered saxophone in 1978 with three lessons and his first professional gig was in 1980. He played Ronnie Scotts as Iain Ballamy Quartet at age 20. He was a founding member of Loose Tubes in 1984.[1] First recording with Billy Jenkins in 1985, his first solo album, Balloon Man, was released in 1988.[1] One of his closest musical collaborators is Django Bates.[1]

During his career he has performed or recorded with a wide range of musicians including Gil Evans, Hermeto Pascoal, , Carla Bley, Dewey Redman, George Coleman, London Sinfonietta, Françios Jeanneau, Daniel Humair, Mike Gibbs, Randy Weston, Karnataka College of Percussion, , , , Nishat Khan, R.A.Ramamani, T.A.S. Mani, , Human Chain, Dr. L. Subramaniam, Tom Robinson, Charlie Watts Orchestra, Jeremy Stacey, Randy Weston, Joanna MacGregor, Delightful Precipice, Bill Bruford, Django Bates, Mark Wingfield, Jane Chapman, Bryan Ferry, Everything But The Girl, Food, Food for Quartet, Loose Tubes, Oxcentrics, Ian Shaw, Slim Gaillard, Ultramarine, Ashley Slater, , Ronnie Scott, Gordon Beck, Britten Sinfonia, and Gay Dad.

In 1999, Ballamy founded the record label , in partnership with graphic artist and filmmaker Dave McKean.

In 2005, he composed the musical score for the movie MirrorMask. He also composed the score for Luna, which is also directed by McKean.

Ballamy is an agony uncle for the Jazz UK magazine with his column, "In the Saxophonists Chair".

Discography[]

As leader[]

As co-leader[]

With Food (Ballamy & Thomas Strønen)
  • Food (1996) – Food with Arve Henriksen and Mats Eilertsen
  • Organic and GM Food (2001) with Arve Henriksen and Mats Eilertsen
  • Veggie (2002) with Arve Henriksen and Mats Eilertsen
  • Last Supper (2004, Rune Grammofon) with Arve Henriksen and Mats Eilertsen
  • Molecular Gastronomy (2007, Rune Grammofon) – Duo: Iain Ballamy & Thomas Strønen, feat. Maria Kannegaard & Ashley Slater
  • Quiet Inlet (2010, ECM Records) with Nils Petter Molvaer and Christian Fennesz
  • Mercurial Balm (2012, ECM Records) with Christian Fennesz, Eivind Aarset, and Nils Petter Molvaer
  • This Is Not a Miracle (ECM, 2013 [2015])
With Quercus (trio including June Tabor and Huw Warren)
  • Quercus (2013, ECM Records)
  • Nightfall (2017, ECM Records)

As sideman[]

With Loose Tubes

With Billy Jenkins

  • Greenwich (1985)
  • Uncommerciality Vol 1 (1986)
  • Scratches of Spain (1987)
  • Motorway At Night (1988)
  • Jazz Cafe Concerts Vol 1 (1989)
  • Jazz Cafe Concerts Vol 2 (1989)
  • True Love Collection (1999)
  • First Aural Art Exhibition (2006)

With Bill Bruford's Earthworks

With Django Bates

With Ian Shaw

With Ray Russell

  • Childscape (1987)
  • A Table Near The Band
  • At Montreux Jazz Festival

With others


Commissions[]

  • 1995 Estuary English –
  • 1996 Mirror Signal Manouvre – Apollo Saxophone Quartet
  • 1996 ACME – Commissioned by Birmingham Jazz
  • 1997 Oblique – Commissioned by SAMPAD/Birmingham Jazz
  • 1998 Four and a half minutes late Jane Chapman, Solo Harpsichord
  • 1998 Walpurgis Night Joanna MacGregor – Duet for Piano & Tenor Sax

Awards[]

  • 1985 John Dankworth Cup, Best Soloist.
  • 1995 BT British Jazz Award, Best Ensemble – Balloon Man.
  • 2001 BBC Jazz Award for Innovation.

Group history[]

British Council tours[]

Romania 1985, Morocco 1995, China 1997, Senegal 1997, India 1996 and 1998, Lithuania 1998, and Colombia 1998.

Television[]

Jazz 606, Meltdown, The Tube, Bergerac, Illuminations, Stay Lucky, Right to Reply, Wogan, and Ronnie Corbett Show.

Radio[]

  • "Cashier Number 6 Please" Documentary exploring the world of the ubiquitous automated voice – on railway stations, in the post office, on the phone and even around the home. With the music of Iain Ballamy & Ashley Slater. Inc interviews. 23/05/2005
  • Jazz on 3. Iain Ballamy and Stian Carstensen in session. 06/02/2004
  • Late Junction. Iain Ballamy and Stian Carstensen play live in the studio. Radio Three 6/2/2004.
  • Jazz Record Requests. Listeners' requests performed by Iain Ballamy, John Parricelli, Tim Harries and Ian Thomas. Live from the London Jazz Festival.
  • Front Row. White Horses TV theme by Jackie Lee and its enduring appeal since 1968 discussed by Iain Ballamy, with clip [3.40] Date: 04/09/2003
  • Between the Ears. Iain Ballamy improvises on the Drake song "It Was a Very Good Year". 29.12.02
  • Jazz on 3. Howard Riley and Iain Ballamy duo. 1.11.02
  • Jazz on 3. Iain Ballamy plays original compositions with his group Cob at Ronnie Scott's 21.12.01
  • Jazz on 3. Norma Winstone performs with John Parricelli and Iain Ballamy. 4.3.00
  • Jazz Notes. London Jazz Festival set by Ian Shaw, Cedar Walton, Iain Ballamy, and . 25.1.00
  • Jazz on 3. Iain Ballamy's Food for Quartet – a new Anglo-Norwegian collaboration between Iain Ballamy, Thomas Stronen, and Arve Henriksen. Recorded at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival.
  • Signal to Noise, Dave McKean and Neil Gaiman, R4, 1997.
  • Impressions. Iain Ballamy discusses his various projects and performs with his group Hungry Ants, with , and Tim Giles. 20.1.96
  • "Jazz at the Bath Festival". Human Chain (Django Bates, Iain Ballamy, , Martin France) with Joanna MacGregor. BBC Radio 3 10.7.93
  • Straight Face. Group led by Mick Hutton featuring Claire Martin, Iain Ballamy, Nikki Iles and Steve Arguelles. BBC Radio 3 27.2.93

Film sessions[]

Dance[]

2003 – 2004 Dance Ranjabiati Sircar/SAMPAD, SANKALPAM.

Theatre[]

Out There, Riverside Studios

Teaching[]

Royal Academy of Music, Birmingham Conservatoire, Trinity College of Music, Rhythmic Music Conservatory Copenhagen, Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama.

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Who’s Who of Jazz (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 29. ISBN 0-85112-580-8.
  2. ^ Smith, Geoffrey (28 August 2020). "Greatest Jazz Saxophonists Ever". Classical Music. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  3. ^ "Iain Ballamy | Album Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 July 2021.

External links[]

Interviews

Reviews[]

Articles[]

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