Biel Ballester

Biel Ballester (born 1974) is a gypsy jazz guitarist from Mallorca, Spain. He contributed music to the Woody Allen film Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

Biel Ballester
Biel Ballester (2016)
Background information
Born1974 (age 45–46)
Mallorca, Spain
GenresGypsy jazz
Occupation(s)Musician
InstrumentsGuitar

Biography

Biel Ballester is from Mallorca in Spain.[1] He studied classical guitar under Àlex Garrobé at the Escola D'Arts Musicals Luthier in Barcelona. He discovered the music of Django Reinhardt at age 18, and his music is a fusion of gypsy jazz and Spanish music.[1][2] With Leo Hipaucha (rhythm guitar) and Oriol González (double bass) he formed the Biel Ballester trio. He was introduced to Woody Allen during the filming of Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Allen, a jazz clarinet player, played frequently with Ballester during this time and included two of his tracks on the soundtrack of the film.[1][3]

Discography

As leader
  • Echoes from Mallorca (Refined, 2005)
  • Live in London (Le Q, 2006)
  • Bistro de Barcelona (Refined, 2008)
  • Jazz a l'Estudi (TVC Disc, 2011)
  • Avanti! (Hot Club, 2011)
  • Melodium Melodynamic (La Cupula Music, 2015)
  • The Lowdown (Hot Club, 2015)

As sideman
  • Jon Larsen, Short Stories from Catalonia, (Hot Club, 2013)

References
  1. "Interview with Biel Ballester & Dave Mitchell Trio", Jazzkaar, 21 March 2015, retrieved 6 September 2015
  2. "Our Man in Barcelona: Biel Ballester", Gypsy Jazz Guitar Secrets, 6, 28 November 2014
  3. "Sé que es un disco muy bueno y he querido gestionarlo todo", UH Noticias, 7 February 2016, retrieved 11 November 2016
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