Iain Ballamy

Ballamy established himself playing alongside notables including Hermeto Pascoal, the late Gil Evans, George Coleman, Dewey Redman, Mike Gibbs and the New York Composers Orchestra. Touring extensively world-wide, he has appeared at most international festivals and venues. Ballamy can be heard on over 40 CDs. A long time collaborator with Django Bates, since the days of Loose Tubes and Bill Bruford's Earthworks he is currently a member of Django's 'Human Chain' and 'Delightful Precepice'. Parallel to his international jazz career, Ballamy has pursued his interest in world music, playing concerts in India and Europe with the Karnataka College of Percussion. He has performed and forged strong working relationships with renowned musicians from Hungary, Norway, Spain, Sudan, Brazil and beyond... Combined arts projects include tours with Sankalpam the contemporary Indian Dance group and Ballamy's acclaimed role as 'Steve the prat' in Simon Black's stage play 'Out There' which toured Britain in 1995 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'. Ballamy recently scored the award winning film Mirrormask directed by Dave McKean for the Jim Henson company. Ballamy's wide ranging musical interests add depth and creativity to his music which can be clearly heard on Veggie and Last Supper release by Rune Gramafon (featuring Norwegians Arve Henriksen, Mats Eilertsen and Thomas Stronen). He is also a specialist tutor at the Royal Academy and Trinity College of music in London.

Awards

1985 John Dankworth Cup, Best Soloist. 1995 BT British Jazz Award, John Dankworth Award Best Ensemble 2001 BBC Jazz Award for Innovation 2007 Paul Hamlyn Award

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