Tune into a contemporary jazz groove with The Little Radio (sax player Iain Ballamy and accordionist Stian ) at the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar on Wednesday, February 5 at 8pm, performing as part of a prestigious Music Network tour.
Iain Ballamy’s big-hearted Ben Webster-ish tenor saxophone, and the restless yet lush accordion playing of Stian Carstensen may seem like an unlikely pairing, but critics and audiences alike have been utterly seduced by the wonderful interplay between the two instruments and the jaw-dropping virtuosity of two players at the top of their game. Contemporary jazz lightens up in these capable hands thanks to the playful choice of melodies, the charm of the arrangements, and an injection of good humour.
A former member of the pioneering British big band Loose Tubes, Ballamy has worked with many of the leading musicians on the European jazz scene as well as composing film works for Arve Henriksen, the London Sinfonietta and the Henri Oguike Dance Company. Best known for his work with the band Farmer’s Market, Stian Carstensen also plays bagpipes, guitar, mandolin, banjo, and a traditional Bulgarian flute called the Kaval. (He recently also became the first person in Norway to be prosecuted for playing the violin whilst driving... ) The Little Radio: don’t touch that dial!
