Iain Ballamy on influential music and the return of live gigs
Photo by Lisa Wormsley
Saxophonist, composer, and bandleader Iain Ballamy is listed between Chet Baker and Count Basie in Geoffrey Smith’s BBC publication ‘100 Jazz Greats’, which is testament to his tremendous abilities. Ballamy emerged in the early eighties, playing with Loose Tubes, Django Bates and Bill Bruford’s Earthworks, before becoming a leader in his own right, as well as a featured concerto soloist with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and BBC Philharmonic Orchestras. Ahead of IBQT’s performance for NQ Jazz at The Yard on Monday 28th June, we asked the saxophonist six questions, covering his past twelve months, significant influences and thoughts about the music industry.
Q. What are you most looking forward to about the return of live music?
Everything! But above all the social and sociable aspect of performing and music making which creates the sense of occasion. We know from streaming concerts and playing on our own at home that nothing compares for the magic of live performance.
Q. What can audiences expect from your NQ Jazz performance?
I anticipate an outpouring of joy! We will be playing original material and some re-imagined classics so the program is broad.
Q. What has kept you busy during the last 12 months?
Online teaching, writing and gathering ideas, closely followed by home schooling children and trying not to lose faith in the future of the live performing arts.
Q. Has your musical perspective or perception of the industry changed over the past year?
The industry has never been clear to me and nor has my perception of it! Musicians are like the coffee beans and the industry is those who deal in music. Music is their “commodity” but is our existence. Musicians ultimately don’t end up with a big piece of the cake sadly.
Q. Who has had a significant influence on your music?
Hermeto Pascoal, Ivan Lins, Tom Jobim, Arvo Part, Herbie Hancock, John Taylor (Jazz not Duran Duran!) Chick Corea, R A Ramamani, Nancy Wilson, Sleaford Mods.
Q. Who are you most looking forward to seeing perform when live music returns?
All the musicians who I have spent my life playing with and not seen for over a year!