JON BALKE musical history
Jon Balke (born 1955 in Norway), pianist, keyboardplayer, composer,
arranger, percussionist,and orchestra leader has been professionally active active since
1974, when he joined Arild Andersens group in a studio session for the
german ECM label. Since then his musical life has moved through several stages:
In the 1980´s
Co-leader of of several groups in Scandinavia, among others:
E´OLEN a collaboration with west-african musicians(1978-1988),
SURDU a trio inspired by ethnic sounds(1977-1979)
OSLO 13, a 13-piece composers orchestra (1980-1993)
MASQUALERO a quintet with Jon Christensen, Arild Andersen. Nils Petter Molvær and Tore Brunborg.
in the 1990´s
Founder of, leader and composer for:
JØKLEBA with Audun Kleive and Per Jørgensen
MAGNETIC NORTH ORCHESTRA chamber ensemble
from 2000
POINT4 "double duo" with 2 pianos 2 percussionists
BATAGRAF percussion ensemble
PRATAGRAF stand up and percussion
SIWAN orchestra with Amina Aaloui /Jon Hassell/Mona Boutchebak/Derya Turkan, etc
Jon Balke Solo performances and albums
Extensive compositional works for a vast variety of ensembles and projects:
contemporary dance, theatre plays, symphony orchestras, singers, and jazz ensembles.
He has collaborated with visual artists like Kjell Bjorgeengen, Tone Myskja, Francesco Scavetta, Giorgio Rossi etc.
Various scoring for film, including "Helene et Mathieu " by Emily Atef
His history as musician include accompanying singers like
Radka Toneff, Sidsel Endresen, Anne Li Drecker, Karin Krogh, and Trine Lise Vaering, as well as live and studio sessions with people like Archie Shepp, John Surman, Airto Moreira/Flora Purim, Michael Urbaniak, Enrico Rava, George Russel, Paolo Fresu, Nguyen Le, Marilyn Mazur, Jon Hassell etc.
Jon Balke has held various positions in boards and comitees including Notam, Norwegian Art Council, Norwegian Jazz federation etc, as well as teaching and censoring for academies in Norway, Denmark, Italy and Germany. He holds a position as associate professor in music production at the Norwegian Academy of Music.
Jon Balke is also founder of and manager at the art centre Madstun in Norway.
Selected recordings:
"Nonsentration" w Oslo 13 ECM
"Further" w Magnetic North Orchestra ECM
"Solarized" w Magnetic North Orchestra Emarcy
"Kyanos" w Magnetic North Orchestra ECM
"Diverted Travels" w Magnetic North Orchestra ECM
"Statements"w Batagraf ECM
"Say and Play" w Batagraf ECM
"Siwan" ECM
"Nahnou Houm" w Siwan ECM
"Book of velocities" solo ECM
"Warp" solo Ecm
"Discourses" solo ECM
"Hafla" w Siwan ECM records
see also:www.madstun.com
Prizes, awards etc:
1984 Norwegian Jazzforbunds "Buddy" prize
1993 "Årets Jazzmusiker" FNJ musikerpris
1994 “OL-musiker”elected group of artists associated with Olympic Winter games
1986-88 Statens 3 årige arbeidsstipend, Governmental work grant.
1996-1998 Statens 3 årige arbeidsstipend, Governmental work grant.
1999 “Jazzvisitor in Copenhagen” AiR one month stay with concert series
2001 Festival-composer at Trondhjem Kammermusikkfestival
2003 Oslo City Culture grant.
2008 Rolf Gamleng prisen from FFUK, Norway.
2009 "Jahrespreis den deutchen schallplattenkritik” for Siwan
2012 Artist in residence Molde int Jazzfestival
2012-2016: 3 year work grant as composer
2018-2022 Norwegian Governmental Seniorstipend as musician
2021 Rolf Gamlengs ærespris from FFUK, Norway.
2022 Nominated for the Spellemann prize (Norways highest music award)
