In the vein of fellow guitarists like John Scofield, Bill Frisell and Julian Lage, Ballantine reconciles his background in jazz with the stylistic background of his instrument...the gratifying tonal and harmonic language of rock/roots with the groove, ambition and improvisational focus of a jazz musician.
The Americana-infused influences Baltimore-based guitarist Charlie Ballantine naturally fell into during his years growing up in Indiana blend seamlessly with his Indianapolis jazz pedigree—instilled by the residual sounds of Wes Montgomery and Freddie Hubbard in the city's air. Since moving east several years ago, the environment, the new colleagues and the energy lent an added dynamic, displayed here in Ballantine's musical connection with the acclaimed New York drummer, Dan Weiss. Bassist Quinn Sternberg, a decades-long compatriot from Indiana, rounds out the trio, adding his years on the New Orleans music scene to the mix.
"A guitarist teeming with intricate grooves and maniacal precision." JazzTimes
Track Listing:
1 Storyteller 3:55
2 Runaround 4:06
3 Trinkle, Tinkle 4:53
4 Strawberry Fields Forever 5:09
5 Modern Bohemian 5:29
6 Tomorrow Never Knows 4:19
7 Cigarette Siren 4:56
8 When Will the Blues Leave 2:59
9 Alameda 3:49
Music by Charlie Ballantine, except:
(3) Thelonious Monk
(4,6) Lennon/McCartney
(8) Ornette Coleman
(9) Elliot Smith
Performers:
Charlie Ballantine - guitar
Quinn Sternberg - bass
Dan Weiss - drums
Production Info:
Produced by Charlie Ballantine
Recorded, mixed & mastered by Tyler Watkins
at Postal Recording, Indianapolis, IN
Recorded on May 8th & 9th, 2024
Photos by Fred Miller
Cover design & layout by John Bishop
Reviews of East by Midwest
Paris Move (Thierry De Clemensat)
Charlie Ballantine is a guitarist whose instrumental finesse may well call to mind the delicate touch of Chet Atkins. In this album, he offers a jazz/picking blend, steeped in the lingering echoes of Wes Montgomery and Freddie Hubbard that still seem to float in the city's air. Since relocating to the East Coast a few years ago, the change in scene ...
Jazz Weekly (George W Harris)
Guitarist Charlie Ballantine forms a bopping trio with Quinn Sternberg/b and Dan Weiss/dr on a mix of originals and clever covers. What's most attractive about Ballantine is the use of his unique tone; it's got a thick, rural sound, hinting at Bill Frisell in it's palpability, but with a bit of energy in the John Scofield world. He gets folksy and ...
CD Hotlist: New Music for Libraries (Rick Anderson)
Holy cow, this is a great album. On this trio session, guitarist Charlie Ballantine plays (and writes) in a style that reflects his Midwestern roots: there are hints of steel guitar in both his tunes and his solos, and his shimmering, chorused tone evokes wide-open cornfields even when he's playing tunes by British city boys from Liverpool (yes, th ...
