Ballard

Jeff Ballard ranks among the most inventive and adventurous drummers of his generation. He makes music that feels like the 21st century – open, fluid, ever-developing; a sound informed by jazz but truly coming to life where musical worlds collide: acoustic and electric, swinging and ambient, analogue and digital, accessible and experimental. The virtuoso drummer, who made his name playing with Ray Charles, Chick Corea, Pat Metheny and Brad Mehldau, is not inhibited by convention. His music is honest, original and adventurous with a ceaseless desire and energy to move people emotionally, physically and intellectually. Jeff’s latest project and album ‘Fairgrounds’, released on Edition Records, provides a freedom to explore and to express himself with musicians who are close to his heart and mind.

Jorge Rossy turns to vibraphone and marimba and delivers a trio set filled with momentous originals for his ECM leader-debut. Marked by their immediate melodic appeal, the vibraphonist’s lines are in lively interplay with his colleagues, Robert Landfermann on bass and Jeff Ballard on drums. After Jorge’s recent contribution on drums to Jakob Bro’s trio with trumpeter Arve Henriksen on Uma Elmo, the present line-up sees him focusing on his own music. On Puerta the Spaniard shines as he navigates a programme that proves him as much an eloquent composer as a powerful melodic voice.

Russ Ballard's first solo album is, surprisingly, a bit rootsier than one would've expected coming from an ex-Argent member, trying for a good, pounding beat on most of its length, interspersed with some anthemic-style numbers. There aren't too many interesting or diverting hooks on this album's worth of originals, and at his best Ballard is a decent if unexceptional hard rock singer here. The record as a whole is as much a somewhat bland extension of Ballard's mid-'60s work with the Roulettes, as it is a distillation of the core Argent sound, with the strongest songs being the material on the original LP's side one.

Most music fans remember Russ Ballard as guitarist/vocalist for 1970's British prog-rockers Argent. Although the band's "leader" was ex-Zombies keyboardist Rod Argent, Russ Ballard was thier secret weapon,penning some of the better Argent tunes. "At The Third Stroke" is one of his better solo efforts, featuring his always excellent songwriting, vocal and guitar playing skills.

For Antonio Farao's maiden voyage for Criss Cross, the Milan-based pianist convened an equivalently virtuosic trio comprising bassist John Patitucci and drummer Jeff Ballard, presented them with eight originals and two standards, and let them loose. Each member operates at a creative peak on this lyric, kinetic, beautifully proportioned 65-minute recital.

2020 release from the veteran British singer/songwriter. Originally released in 2015 (with 9 tracks) as download via UMU Music, it was reworked by Russ with added tracks for the release as hard copy. It's Good To Be Here is his tenth album and it showcases not only his uncanny way with melody and lyrics, but also his more thoughtful side. Russ Ballard has plenty to say and he really opens up on this album. "I've spent my life making music and, if anything, it means even more to me now. I'm in the studio almost every day, writing and recording, so I have many new recordings."