Peak Jazz Series: Charlie Ballentine

Charlie Ballantine is an artist whose music moves fluidly between jazz, folk, rock, blues, and roots traditions without ever losing its sense of purpose or groove.

Named one of the Top 200 Living Guitarists by All About Jazz and a Rising Star in DownBeat Magazine’s Critics Poll, Ballantine is praised for a style that is both technically masterful and deeply expressive. JazzTimes describes his playing as “teeming with intricate grooves and maniacal precision,” while Vintage Guitar Magazine notes that “jazz, rock, and folk music peacefully coexist in Charlie Ballantine’s world.”

Ballantine’s original compositions—featured on albums like Vonnegut and Cold Coffee—are imaginative, cinematic, and emotionally resonant. Alongside his original work, he shows a deep reverence for the jazz tradition, interpreting standards such as “My One and Only Love” and “East of the Sun,” and releasing an ambitious double album dedicated entirely to the music of Thelonious Monk.

After graduating from Indiana University’s prestigious Jacobs School of Music under legendary educator David Baker, Ballantine quickly became a fixture of the Midwest jazz scene. His award-winning album Life Is Brief: The Music of Bob Dylan earned international recognition and was named one of All About Jazz’s Top Ten Jazz Albums of the Year, praised for bringing fresh improvisational insight to Dylan’s songbook.

As a bandleader, Ballantine tours extensively throughout the U.S. and Canada, appearing at major festivals including the Detroit Jazz Festival, Rochester Jazz Festival, Winnipeg International Jazz Festival, and Indianapolis Jazz Festival. He is also a highly sought-after collaborator, having performed with artists such as Rob Dixon, Emmett Cohen, and Amanda Gardier.

SAMPLE SONG

Rooted in tradition but driven by curiosity, Charlie Ballantine’s music is thoughtful, adventurous, and richly human—perfectly suited for an intimate listening room experience.

The Peak Jazz Series is made possible by the generous support of Joseph & Luann Conlon in memory of Corrine Simonds.

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