For more than 3 decades, Saskatchewan-born, New York-based jazz pianist, composer and educator Jon Ballantyne has performed to acclaim in solo, trio, quartet and big band concerts in Canada, the US, Europe, Japan, the UK, Ireland and Israel. Jon has released 14 albums and has garnered 2 Juno Awards and 4 Juno nominations.

 

Ballantyne's early interest in jazz eventually led to studies with highly influential musicians, such as Dave Holland, Lee Konitz, Richie Beirach, Joanne Brackeen, Kenny Barron, Don Thompson, Kenny Wheeler, Cecil Taylor, Barry Harris and Ed Blackwell. Jon has performed and recorded with the artists Joe Henderson, Paul Bley, Woody Herman's Thundering Herd, Phil Woods, David Liebman, Dewey Redman, Roy Haynes, Billy Hart, Gene Perla, Seamus Blake, Nicole Glover and Ingrid Jensen, to name a few.

 

Recent performances at the renowned jazz clubs, Mezzrow (NYC), and the Deer Head Inn (Pennsylvania), with the legendary drummer, Bill Goodwin, and with Jon's own trios, have been highlights, as well as a very well-received Winter/'26 duo concert with trumpeter/composer Dean McNeill. Jon has also conducted master classes at several institutes of higher learning, including McGill and Concordia Universities in Montreal; the University of Saskatchewan; Sibelius Academy, Helsinki; University of Toronto; New School, NYC; University of Colorado, Boulder; University of Northern Colorado, Greeley and also recently was an instructor at the Phil Woods-founded summer jazz workshop COTA Camp (Pennsylvania), as well as the Saskatchewan Jazz Festival’s Summer Jazz Intensive.