Iain Ballamy

Iain Ballamy
Background information
Born (1964-02-20) 20 February 1964
Origin United Kingdom
Genres Jazz
Occupation(s) Musician, composer
Instruments Soprano, alto and tenor saxophones
Years active 1980s to date
Labels Basho Record, Rune Grammofon, Editions EG, Feral, B&W Music
Associated acts Anorak, Balloon Man, ACME, Food for Quartet, The Little Radio, Loose Tubes, Bill Bruford's Earthworks, Django Bates' Human Chain, Delightful Precipice, Billy Jenkins' Voice of God.
Website www.ballamy.com

Iain Ballamy (born 20 February 1964) is a British composer, soprano, alto and tenor saxophone player.

Career

Ballamy was born in Guildford, Surrey, and educated at George Abbot School, Guildford, from 1975 to 1980. He then studied Musical Instrument Technology from 1980-1982 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. First recording with Billy Jenkins 1985 and first solo album, Balloon Man, 1988.

During his career he has performed or recorded with a wide range of top 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, 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 will also compose the score for Luna, which is also directed by Dave Mckean.

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

Discography

As leader

As co-leader

With Food (Ballamy & Thomas Strønen)

As sideman

With Loose Tubes

With Billy Jenkins

With Bill Bruford's Earthworks

With Django Bates

With Ian Shaw

With Ray Russell

With others

Compilations

Commissions

Awards

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, Ronnie Corbett Show.

Radio

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.

Interviews

Reviews

Articles

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