Iain Ballamy

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Iain Ballamy
Born (1964-02-20) 20 February 1964 (age 60)
Guildford, Surrey, England
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Musician, composer
Instrument(s)Saxophone
Years active1980s–present
LabelsBasho, Rune Grammofon, Editions EG, Feral, B&W Music
Websiteballamy.com

Iain Ballamy (born 20 February 1964) is a British composer and saxophonist.[1] He is considered one of the 25 greatest jazz saxophonists of all time[2] and was featured as one of the world's all-time greats in BBC Music Magazine's "100 Jazz Legends".[3] The Guardian described him as "one of the world's distinctive saxophone voices".[4][5] One of his closest musical collaborators is Django Bates.[1]

Career[edit]

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] Clive Davis' review in The Times described it as "possibly the most assured session so far by any player of his generation" "The Times" [Balancing Act]. 1989. [6]

During his career he has performed or recorded with a wide range of musicians including Gil Evans, Hermeto Pascoal, New York Composers Orchestra, Carla Bley, Dewey Redman, George Coleman, London Sinfonietta, Françios Jeanneau, Daniel Humair, Mike Gibbs, Randy Weston, Karnataka College of Percussion, Sax Assault, Jazz Train, Freebop, Nishat Khan, R.A.Ramamani, T.A.S. Mani, Clare Martin, 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 (band), Ashley Slater, Hungry Ants, Ronnie Scott, Gordon Beck, Britten Sinfonia, and Gay Dad.

In 1999, Ballamy founded the record label Feral Records, 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 a visiting currently a professor at the Royal Academy of Music, Birmingham Conservatoire, Trinity College of Music, and the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama.[7]

His latest musical endeavours include the Iain Ballamy Quartet, as well as 'Fascinada', a quintet exploring the vibrant music of Brazil. This group plays textural improvisations that lead into compositions by the likes of Ivan Lins, Milton Nascimento, Antonio Carlos Jobim & Hermeto Pascoal. This group features some of the leading lights of British Jazz, including Welsh pianist Huw Warren & British rising star guitarist Rob Luft.

Discography[edit]

As leader[edit]

As co-leader[edit]

With Food (Ballamy & Thomas Strønen)
With Quercus (trio including June Tabor and Huw Warren)
  • Quercus (2013, ECM Records)
  • Nightfall (2017, ECM Records)

As sideman[edit]

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[edit]

Awards[edit]

Group history[edit]

British Council tours[edit]

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

Television[edit]

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

Radio[edit]

Film sessions[edit]

Dance[edit]

2003 – 2004 Dance Ranjabiati Sircar/SAMPAD, SANKALPAM

Theatre[edit]

Out There, Riverside Studios

References[edit]

  1. ^ 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. ^ "100 Jazz Legends". BBC Music Magazine. December 2011.
  4. ^ Fordham, John (28 December 1999). "The good sax guide". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  5. ^ "BBC Four - BBC Young Musician, 2018, Jazz Final - Iain Ballamy". BBC. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  6. ^ https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10160685070341248&set=p.10160685070341248&notif_id=1683617655309230&notif_t=feedback_reaction_generic&ref=notif scan of article
  7. ^ "Biography". ballamy.com. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  8. ^ "Iain Ballamy | Album Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  9. ^ londonjazz (1 May 2020). "Iain Ballamy, Ian Shaw, Jamie Safir – "What's New?"". London Jazz News. Retrieved 24 May 2023.

External links[edit]

Interviews

Reviews[edit]

Articles[edit]

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