Ibqt at The Yard

Listed between Chet Baker and Count Basie in Geoffrey Smith’s BBC publication ‘100 Jazz Greats’, Ballamy has a rare and beautiful sound on the tenor saxophone, both captivating and instantly recognisable.

Since emerging in the early 80’s with Loose Tubes, Django Bates and Bill Bruford’s Earthworks, he has established himself as a player and composer of note on the world’s jazz stages. Recently he has performed as a featured concerto soloist with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and BBC Philharmonic Orchestras. Past highlights include concerts and recordings with Gil Evans, George Coleman, John Taylor, Cedar Walton, June Tabor and Hermeto Pascoal....

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Listed between Chet Baker and Count Basie in Geoffrey Smith’s BBC publication ‘100 Jazz Greats’, Ballamy has a rare and beautiful sound on the tenor saxophone, both captivating and instantly recognisable.

Since emerging in the early 80’s with Loose Tubes, Django Bates and Bill Bruford’s Earthworks, he has established himself as a player and composer of note on the world’s jazz stages. Recently he has performed as a featured concerto soloist with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and BBC Philharmonic Orchestras. Past highlights include concerts and recordings with Gil Evans, George Coleman, John Taylor, Cedar Walton, June Tabor and Hermeto Pascoal.

His remarkable new quartet features world-class pianist Huw Warren, the extraordinary flamboyant virtuoso bassist/ trumpeter Percy Pursglove and Mark Whitlam, a uniquely versatile and gifted drummer. Ballamy’s concert repertoire covers a great range and his program will include past and present original works plus some unexpected re-workings of some classic songs that inspired his musical journey.

Ballamy is currently a recording artist for ECM records.

“...an unmistakably Ballamy sound and sensibility, executed to thrilling effect by an extraordinary band...” — Mike Collins, JazzyBlogMan

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