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Tenor, alto, and soprano saxophonist
Iain Ballamy emerged among the vanguard of '80s British jazz-rock and fusion players. His style was looser, and more intense and extreme, than many of his contemporaries, and included elements of free jazz as well.
Ballamy began playing alto at 14, then later added tenor. He formed a quintet in 1983, and also joined
Graham Collier's workshop band that evolved into the group Loose Tubes.
Ballamy joined the Voice of God Collective in 1985, and recorded
Gil Evans music for the film Absolute Beginners. His appearance on the 1986 release
Earthworks attracted attention in both jazz and rock circles, in part due to bandleader
Bill Bruford, making a foray into jazz quartet territory after leading his eponymous fusion band and playing drums in
King Crimson and
Yes.
Ballamy continued performing and recording with
Earthworks until 1992, and henceforth has remained active as a composer, collaborator, and bandleader in his own right. ~ Ron Wynn