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 The son of a jazz pianist, saxophonist Iain Ballamy
was born in 1964, playing Soho clubs in his teens and is a key player in the
emergence of the new school of British jazz. As a founding member of
the seminal jazz big band Loose Tubes in the early 66's and an integral
component of Bill Brufords Earthworks, he was
instrumental in preparing the British palate for modern jazz, and the
musical friendships he forged at that time have lasted. A long time
collaborator with Django Bates, Iain is a member of Django's Human Chain and Delightful Precipice and he also plays with guitarist Billy Jenkins
in The Voice of God Collective. Ballamy has established an
international reputation for himself by playing alongside notables
including Hermeto Pascoal, the late Gil Evans, George Coleman, Dewey Redman and Mike Gibbs.
Albums:
- ACME
- All Men Amen
Touring extensively world-wide, his distinctive sax stylings can be
heard on over 25 assorted recordings. Parallel to his international
jazz career, Ballamy has pursued his interest in world music, playing
and studying in India at the Karnataka College of Percussion and has
become a regular at the celebrated annual Grenzüberschreitungen/Bordercrossings Global music encounter hosted by Iwalewa Haus
in Bayreuth, Germany, where Ballamy has performed and forged strong
working relationships with renowned musicians from Hungary, Egypt,
Spain, Nigeria, Bulgaria, Brazil and beyond.
Combined arts
projects include tours with Sankalpam the contemporary Indian Dance
group and an acclaimed role as 'Steve the prat' in Simon Black's stage
play, Out There, which toured Britain in '95 and '96. His distinctive
saxophone voice can be heard in his improvisations for the BBC Radio 4
play, Signal to Noise, by Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean; the movie, Legend, and a documentary, Joseph Losey - The Man with Four Names.
Iain cut his first solo album, Balloon Man, for EG Records in 1988, but
had to wait five years before following it with All Men Amen (BW065),
featuring fellow graduates from the Loose Tubes academy: Django Bates
on keyboards and tenor horn; Steve Watts on double bass; Martin France
on drums and percussion. Always open to experimentation, Ballamy also
worked with the electronic instrumental duo, Ultramarine, who remixed
one of his tracks for inclusion on B&W/M.E.L.T.2000's Music
With No Name(BW080). "I enjoy meeting new musicians and discovering if
we can work together," says Ballamy. "I also believe in encouraging
young musicians wherever I can." He occasionally plays in the Hungry
Ants, a jazz quartet featuring a rising piano star in Richard Fairhurst
and the remarkably sophisticated teenage drummer TG Fly (Tim Giles),
whom he felt should be given a stage for their precocious talents.
Ballamy's wide ranging musical interests add depth and creativity to
his music which can be clearly heard in his latest album ACME (BW101).
Comprising the brothers in rhythm, bassist Mike and drummer Mark Mondesir, and featuring guitarist John Parricelli,
ACME pulls together Iain's diverse musical fascinations to form a rich,
powerful band making a unique, contemporary British Jazz sound. Mr
Ballamy has his own web site here.
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