Biel Ballester
Introduction
Biel Ballester is a guitarist from Mallorca, Spain. He is best known for playing Gypsy Jazz music and for his contributions to the Woody Allen film Vicky Cristina Barcelona: When I Was a Boy and Your Shining Eyes.
Biography
Biel Ballester is from Mallorca in Spain. He studied classical guitar under Àlex Garrobé at the Escola D’Arts Musicals Luthier in Barcelona. He discovered the music of Django Reinhardt at age 18 and his music is a fusion of Gypsy Jazz and Spanish music. With Leo Hipaucha (rhythm guitar ) and Oriol González (double bass) he formed the Biel Ballester trio. He was introduced to Woody Allen during the filming of Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Allen, a jazz clarinet player, jammed frequently with Ballester during this time and included two of his tracks on the soundtrack of the film.
Discography
Biel Ballester Trio recordings
- Echoes from Mallorca 2005 Refined Records
- Live in London 2006 Le Q Records
- Bistro de Barcelona 2008 Refined Records
- Jazz a l'Estudi 2011 TVC Disc
- Avanti 2012 Hot Club Records
- Melodium Melodynamic 2016 La Cupula Music
Biel's Lower & East Combo recordings
- The Lowdown 2015 Hot Club Records
Compilations
- Django Festival 2 2002 Hot Club Records
- Django Festival 4 2006 Hot Club Records
- Vicky Cristina Barcelona Soundtrack 2008 Telarc
- Le QuecumBar International Gypsy Swing Guitar Festival 2010 Le Q Records
- Hot Club Records: Best of 2013 Hot Club Records
- Django Festival 6 2013 Hot Club Records
- Django Festival 9 2015 Hot Club Records
Collaborations
- Short Stories from Catalonia Jon Larsen featuring Biel Ballester 2013 Hot Club Records
- Nits De Swing a La Sala Apolo Barcelona Jazz Orquestra 2016 Temps Record