Jazz: Iain Ballamy with House Band

For our Christmas Special final gig of 2026 we’re delighted to welcome one of the UK’s most significant jazz artists, saxophonist Iain Ballamy. Iain Ballamy is a key figure in contemporary European jazz with a distinctive musical voice merging avant-garde experimentation with accessible melodic sensibility. Listed in the BBC’s ‘100 Jazz Greats’ between Count Basie and Chet Baker, Ballamy has been described as urbane, original and uncompromising. His work merges both strong jazz and classical references but remains un-encumbered by formality and tradition. Significant partnerships include innovative big band Loose Tubes, Bill Bruford’s Earthworks, Django Bates’ Human Chain and Anglo/Norwegian duo ‘Food’. More recently he has been playing with Denny Ilett’s Hendrix Big Band, and runs regular sessions at Bar Lotte in Frome. At the end of 2025 he released his latest album Riversphere: “an exquisite flow of genre, harmony and improv” – John Fordham, The Guardian, Jazz Album of the Month, 02/01/2026. For tonight’s performance Iain guests with our house-band of club regulars, some of the finest players in the South West.