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 Andersen's group in a studio session for the German ECM label. Since then his musical life has moved through several stages:
Co-leader or 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 and Arild Andersen.
- POINT4 "double duo" with 2 pianos 2 percussionists
Founder of, leader and composer for:
- JØKLEBA with Audun Kleive and Per Jørgensen
- MAGNETIC NORTH ORCHESTRA chamber ensemble
- BATAGRAF percussion ensemble
- SIWAN orchestra with Amina Aaloui /Jon Hassell/Mona Boutchebak/Derya Turkan
Extensive compositional works for a vast variety of ensembles and projects like ballets, 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.
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 has approved status by the Danish state as censor in rhythmic music and 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
See also:
Prizes, awards etc.:
- 1984 Norwegian Jazzforbunds "Buddy" prize
- 1993 "Årets Jazzmusiker" FNJ musikerpris “OL-musiker” i forbindelse med vinter-OL 1994
- 1986-88 Statens 3 årige arbeidsstipend
- 1996-1998 Statens 3 årige arbeidsstipend.
- 1999 “Jazzvisitor in Copenhagen” AiR one month stay with concert series
- 2001 Festival-komponist ved 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 Internasjonale Jazzfestival
- 2012-2016: 3 årig arbeidsstipend som komponist
- 2018-2022 Seniorstipend musiker
- 2021 Rolf Gamlengs ærespris from FFUK, Norway.