{"title":"Jon Ballantyne","description":"\u003cp\u003eJon’s early interest in studying and performing music ultimately led to his collaborations musically (onstage and\/or recording) with musicians such as Joe Henderson, Paul Bley, Dewey Redman, Billy Hart, Roy Haynes, Drew Gress, Dave Liebman, Rich Perry, Doug Weiss, Gene Jackson and Phil Dwyer. Over the past several years, he’s jammed at jazz festivals or private sessions with players like Joe Lovano, Mark Turner, Bill Carrothers, Seamus Blake and Donny McAslin.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eIn his formative years, Jon played gigs with Pepper Adams, Woody Herman’s Thundering Herd, Terry Clarke, Neil Swainson and Jerry Fuller.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eAnd before that, Jon studied, and in many cases, played, with greats like Cecil Taylor, Ed Blackwell, Kenny Wheeler, Don Thompson, Karl Berger, Elvin Jones, Barry Harris, Joanne Brackeen, Emily Remler and Lee Konitz, to name a few.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eAn example of Jon’s musically diverse career is from an approximately two year period in the early 1990’s when Jon performed in completely spontaneous piano duo recordings and concerts with fellow pianist and Canadian Paul Bley, and was also found to be playing raucously swinging, modern jazz in concert and clubs with the late, great American saxophonist Joe Henderson.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eJon has performed in some of the world’s finest concert halls (Cremona, Italy Opera House; Kilbourn Hall-Eastman School of Music; Place des Arts-Montreal), institutions (Museum of Modern Art-New York, Stockholm) and jazz clubs (Knitting Factory, Birdland-New York). Whether he’s performing his original compositions, which can be knotty and dense, or sometimes quiet, spacey and melodic; two-handed virtuosic atonal improvisations, or reworking the standard jazz repertoire, Jon’s openness, originality and inborn creativity always inform his playing, much to the delight of his listeners.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/artistecard.com\/jonballantyne\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa fa-globe fa-3x\"\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n","products":[{"product_id":"a-musing-1","title":"A Musing","description":"\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBallantyne is a bright new Canadian piano star. He gets a good sound from the instrument and plays just as much or as little as he needs to get his point across. Nowhere is this better illustrated than on\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eQuestion,\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003ean exploration that discovers all of the melody's most telling points. On\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eAlternative Vision\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003eand\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ePolka Dots\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ehe takes a more aggressive stance as befits an amiable piano and drum duel. It is the former that shows off his chops but it is the latter that demonstrates his natural way with a tune.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe duets are beautifully stage-managed. Neither player tries to showboat, the interaction is subtle but there is no loss of creative intent or rhythmic virility. Both men are listeners and they approach each task in their own individual manner.\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eZacotic\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003efinds them at their most reflective\u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e. If You Like\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ehas some fine treble jousting, while\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eViattya\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ecomes over as if a modern blues march by a single player. Ballantyne is a pianist to watch - and hear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e-Barry McRae\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Jon Ballantyne","offers":[{"title":"Digital Download","offer_id":39516353134752,"sku":"0068944003952","price":9.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":39516370862240,"sku":"","price":15.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0537\/8477\/2768\/products\/a1e2461c-2099-4493-bf78-32e04a25e7f78017675838749262210-LARGE_d5357482-b41f-4451-8f1a-9e8be427fcca.jpg?v=1616168564"},{"product_id":"sky-dance-1","title":"Sky Dance","description":"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eNot before listening to Sky Dance (Justin Time 30-1) had I heard of Jon Ballantyne, pianist, composer and leader of a first-rate trio. Not only does he create engaging melodies, but their quality inspires superior improvisation, primary from the composer and the trio's quest, tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson. But do not assume that because Henderson here plays with musicians not widely known that he condescends to humour the provincialists. Rather, the group seems more a quartet than trio plus visiting famous player. Clearly Henderson is inspired by the compositions and his fellow musicians, who include bassist Neil Swainson and drummer Jerry Fuller.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eEach of the five performances on this album delights, from the up tempo 'Oh What I've Been Thru' to the angular 'Opus IV' to the slightly whimsical 'BYO Blues' (with Henderson at his most Rollins-like) to the title tune, which is a beautiful ballad. On the only non-Ballantyne composition, the quartet romps through 'You And The Night and The Music' so deftly and with such passion that one marvels that this is not a regular working group while wishing that it were. Although lack of liner notes leaves me wondering about the circumstances surrounding this recording, I assume that Henderson was playing in Montreal in December 1988 with a local rhythm section (Ballantyne's) and, because of the quality music they made, someone decided to record them. But whatever led to this recording, the contents of Sky Dance will surprise and please all lovers of improvised music.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eAll of the releases reviewed here offer something worth while.  Of them, Jon Ballantyne's \"Sky Dance\" and Chiasson and Wayne's Point Counterpoint\" are most likely to be listened to seriously ten years from now.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e-Benjamin Franklin III\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Jon Ballantyne","offers":[{"title":"Digital Download","offer_id":39518696276128,"sku":"0068944003051","price":9.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":39518745886880,"sku":"","price":15.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0537\/8477\/2768\/products\/a3fd1d59-4016-427f-8a58-6e439ffc91579864313703548698112-LARGE_a303b662-e7f6-4959-8d1b-19ec34be4d88.jpg?v=1616201105"},{"product_id":"the-loose-2","title":"The Loose","description":"McCoy Tyner and Thelonious Monk seem to meet in Jon Ballantyne's style. Of course that is an oversimplification but the versatile Ballantyne ranges from the moody \"M. Dewey D\" and a dissonant \"Omithology\" to a tradeoff of blues choruses on \"The Loose\" (with drummer Billy Hart) has aspects of both innovators in his own playing. Playing five originals and such obscurities as Joe Henderson's \"Serenity\" and Charles Mingus' \"Duke's Choice,\" Ballantyne constructs a thoughtful and often introspective but always swinging program of music with the strong assistance of Hart and bassist Drew Gress.\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv hidden=\"\" id=\"longDescription\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eMcCoy Tyner and Thelonious Monk seem to meet in Jon Ballantyne's style. Of course that is an oversimplification but the versatile Ballantyne ranges from the moody \"M. Dewey D\" and a dissonant \"Omithology\" to a tradeoff of blues choruses on \"The Loose\" (with drummer Billy Hart) has aspects of both innovators in his own playing. Playing five originals and such obscurities as Joe Henderson's \"Serenity\" and Charles Mingus' \"Duke's Choice,\" Ballantyne constructs a thoughtful and often introspective but always swinging program of music with the strong assistance of Hart and bassist Drew Gress.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbutton id=\"showLessDescription\" href=\"#\" class=\"btn btn-default btn-xs pull-right\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-href=\"#\"\u003eLess\u003c\/button\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv hidden=\"\" id=\"longDescription\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eMcCoy Tyner and Thelonious Monk seem to meet in Jon Ballantyne's style. Of course that is an oversimplification but the versatile Ballantyne ranges from the moody \"M. Dewey D\" and a dissonant \"Omithology\" to a tradeoff of blues choruses on \"The Loose\" (with drummer Billy Hart) has aspects of both innovators in his own playing. Playing five originals and such obscurities as Joe Henderson's \"Serenity\" and Charles Mingus' \"Duke's Choice,\" Ballantyne constructs a thoughtful and often introspective but always swinging program of music with the strong assistance of Hart and bassist Drew Gress.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbutton id=\"showLessDescription\" href=\"#\" class=\"btn btn-default btn-xs pull-right\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-href=\"#\"\u003eLess\u003c\/button\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Jon Ballantyne","offers":[{"title":"Digital Download","offer_id":39560336212128,"sku":"0068944006557","price":9.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":39560352563360,"sku":"","price":15.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0537\/8477\/2768\/products\/4adf52b0-f117-41bd-8ebb-d53add2050b0679129282291971181-LARGE_dd066a17-4780-4d91-a772-f7791d76beb1.jpg?v=1616685033"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0537\/8477\/2768\/collections\/picArtist363.jpg?v=1616161745","url":"https:\/\/justin-time-records.myshopify.com\/collections\/jon-ballantyne.oembed","provider":"Justin Time Records","version":"1.0","type":"link"}