# Jon Balke > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Jon_Balke > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Jon_Balke.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Balke > Source revision: 1349769100 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|Norwegian jazz pianist (born 1955)|bot=PearBOT 5}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Jon Balke | image = Jon Balke.jpg | caption = Balke at Berchidda on Sardinia, 2006
(Photo by Gianfranco Rota) | background = non_vocal_instrumentalist | birth_name = Jon Georg Balke | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1955|6|7|df=y}} | birth_place = [Furnes](/source/Furnes%2C_Norway), Norway | genre = [Jazz](/source/Jazz) | occupation = Musician, composer | instrument = Piano | years_active = | label = | associated_acts = [Magnetic North Orchestra](/source/Magnetic_North_Orchestra) | website = {{URL|www.magnetic.no}} }} '''Jon Georg Balke''' (born 7 June 1955) is a Norwegian [jazz](/source/jazz) pianist who leads the group Siwan. He is the younger brother of saxophonist [Erik Balke](/source/Erik_Balke).{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://snl.no/.nbl_biografi/Jon_Balke/utdypning |title=Jon Balke Biography |language=no |publisher=[Norsk Biografisk Leksikon](/source/Norsk_Biografisk_Leksikon)|access-date=2016-05-24}}{{cite web |url=http://www.europejazz.net/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=510 |title=Europe Jazz Orchestra |publisher=EuropeJazz.net |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927035850/http://www.europejazz.net/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=510 |archive-date=2007-09-27 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/jon-balke-magnetic-works-1993-2001-by-john-kelman |title=Jon Balke: Magnetic Works 1993-2001 - Extended Analysis |first=John |last=Kelman |date=2012-08-15 |access-date=2012-11-09 |publisher=AllAboutJazz.com}} == Career == [[File:Jon Balke Sentralen Oslo Jazzfestival (181249).jpg|thumb|right|Balke at Sentralen during
the 2016 [Oslo Jazzfestival](/source/Oslo_Jazzfestival)]] Balke started playing [classical piano](/source/classical_piano) but switched to [blues](/source/blues) at 12, though he performs within several genres. At the age of 18 he joined [Arild Andersen](/source/Arild_Andersen)'s quartet. By the mid-1980s he worked on his own and would become one of Norway's leading jazz composers.{{cite web |url=http://www.mic.no/mic.nsf/home/forsiden?opendocument&url=http://www.listento.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2002101215452958585030 |title=Jon Balke Biography - Music Information Center Norway - MIC.no}} He was active in the groups of [Radka Toneff](/source/Radka_Toneff) and in the Afrofusion group E'olén before joining [Oslo 13](/source/Oslo_13) and [Masqualero](/source/Masqualero) in the early 1980s. From 1989 he focused on his own projects, such as [JøKleBa](/source/J%C3%B8KleBa) (with [Audun Kleive](/source/Audun_Kleive) and [Per Jørgensen](/source/Per_J%C3%B8rgensen)) and the [Magnetic North Orchestra](/source/Magnetic_North_Orchestra) for which he composed the commissioned work ''Il Cenoneat'' to [Vossajazz](/source/Vossajazz) 1992.{{cite web |url=http://nrk.no/kanal/nrk_jazz/1.3723296|title=Jon Balke - alene med et flygel - Jazz}} [NRK](/source/NRK).no (in Norwegian) Balke formed the percussion group [Batagraf](/source/Batagraf) in 2002, and created the concept work ''[http://www.siwan.no Siwan]'' with singer [Amina Alaoui](/source/Amina_Alaoui) in 2007. He is also the creator of a series of multimedia concerts at [Vossajazz](/source/Vossajazz) festival, labeled ''Ekstremjazz''. The concerts involve various practitioners of extreme sports, such as [parachuting](/source/parachuting), [paragliding](/source/paragliding), [hanggliding](/source/hanggliding), and [BMX biking](/source/bicycle_motocross). In 2012 he was artist in residence at [Moldejazz](/source/Moldejazz).{{cite web |url=http://www.moldejazz.no/2012/index.php?page_id=16290 |title=Jon Balke - Artist in Recidence |publisher=Moldejazz.no |access-date=2012-09-17}} In 2016 he launched the solo piano concept Warp the use of live electronics accompanying the grand piano in live performances. == Awards and honors == *1984: [Buddyprisen](/source/Buddyprisen) *1993: Jazz Musician of the Year *2000: [Edvard Prize](/source/Edvard_Prize) in popular music – major works, for the album ''Solarized'' *2003: Oslo Bys kulturstipend *2008: [Gammleng-prisen](/source/Gammleng-prisen) in the class jazz *2009* Jahrespreis der Deutschen Musikkritiker *2012: Artist in Residence at [Moldejazz](/source/Moldejazz){{cite web |url=http://www.nrk.no/kanal/nrk_jazz/1.8209838 |title=Jon Balke – Magnetic Works |language=no |publisher=Jazz [NRK](/source/NRK).no}} == Discography == === As leader === An asterisk (*) indicates year of release. {|class="wikitable sortable" |- !Year recorded !Title !Label !Personnel/Notes |- |1994 |''Further'' |[ECM](/source/ECM_Records) |With Morten Halle (sax), Per Jørgensen (trpt), Tore Brunborg (sax) Anders Jormin (bass) Marilyn Mazur (perc) Audun Kleive (perc) |- |1997 |''Rotor'' |[Curling Legs](/source/Curling_Legs) |With Morten Hannisdal (cello), Marek Konstantynowicz (viola), Henrik Hannisdal and Odd Hannisdal (violin) |- |1998* |''Saturation'' |[Jazzland](/source/Jazzland_Recordings)/[EmArcy](/source/EmArcy_Records) |With Nils-Olav Johansen (guitar, vocals), Fredrik Lundin (sax, flute), Sidsel Endresen (vocals) |- |1999 |''Solarized'' |EmArcy |[Magnetic North Orchestra](/source/Magnetic_North_Orchestra) |- |2002 |''Kyanos'' |[ECM](/source/ECM_Records) |Magnetic North Orchestra |- |2004 |''Diverted Travels'' |ECM |Magnetic North Orchestra |- |2006 |''[Book of Velocities](/source/Book_of_Velocities)'' |ECM |Solo piano |- |2007–08 |''[Siwan](/source/Siwan_(album))'' |ECM |With Amina Alaoui (vocals), Jon Hassell (trumpet, electronics), Kheir-Eddine M'Kachiche (violin), Helge Andreas Norbakken (percussion), Pedram Khavar Zamini (zarb), Bjarte Eike, Per Buhre, Peter Spissky, Anna Ivanovna Sundin and Miloš Valent (violin), Rastko Roknic and Joel Sundin (viola) Tom Pitt (cello), Kate Hearne (cello, recorder), Mattias Frostensson (double bass), Andreas Arend (theorboe, archlute), Hans Knut Sveen (harpsichord, clavichord) |- |2009 |''Say and Play'' |[ECM](/source/ECM_Records) |With Helge Andreas Norbakken (sabar, gorong, djembe, talking drum, shakers, percussion), Emilie Stoesen Christensen (vocals), Erland Dahlen (drums), Torgeir Rebolledo Pedersen (poetry reading) |- |2012 |''Magnetic Works'' |ECM |Magnetic North Orchestra |- |2014 |''Warp'' |ECM |Solo piano and keyboards with field recordings{{cite web |title=Warp |url=https://www.ecmrecords.com/catalogue/1452521777/warp-jon-balke |website=ECM Records |access-date=11 July 2018 |language=en}} |- |2017 |''Nahnou Houm'' |ECM |Second album with the Siwan concept{{cite web |title=Nahnou Houm |url=https://www.ecmrecords.com/catalogue/1505219806/nahnou-houm-jon-balke-siwan |website=ECM Records |access-date=11 July 2018}} |- |2020 |''Discourses'' |ECM |Solo album that further develops the methodology introduced on the ''Warp'' album {{cite web |title=Discourses |url=https://www.ecmrecords.com/shop/1583400773/discourses-jon-balke | website=ECM Records}} |- |2022 |''Hafla'' |ECM |Third album with Siwan featuring Mona Boutchebak, Derya Turkan and Pedram Khavarzamini.{{cite web |title=Hafla |url=https://ecmrecords.com/product/siwan-hafla-jon-balke | website=ECM Records}} |- |2025 |''Skrifum'' |ECM |Solo album that further develops the methodology introduced in the ''Warp'' and ''Discourses'' albums {{cite web |title=Skrifum |url=https://ecmrecords.com/product/skrifum-jon-balke/ | website=ECM Records}} |} ===As co-leader=== '''With Jøkleba''' *1991: ''On and On'' (Odin) *1993: ''JøKleBa!'' (Norsk Plateproduksjon) *1996: ''JøKleBa Live'' ([Curling Legs](/source/Curling_Legs)) *2011: ''Nu Jøk?'' (EmArcy, Universal Music Norway) *2014: ''[Outland](/source/Outland_(J%C3%B8KleBa_album))'' (ECM){{cite web|url=http://www.ballade.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2005053011161739156786 |title=Jon Balke and Magnetic North Orchestra: Diverted travels - Listen to Norway MIC.no |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528180258/http://www.ballade.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2005053011161739156786 |archive-date=2010-05-28 }} (by Tomas Lauvland Pettersen) *2012: ''Magnetic Works 1993-2001'' (ECM), compilation{{cite web |url=http://www.ecmrecords.com/Catalogue/ECM/2100/2182_83.php?lvredir=712&cat=%2FArtists%2FBalke+Jon%23%23Jon+Balke&catid=0&doctype=Catalogue&order=releasedate&rubchooser=901&mainrubchooser=9 |title=Magnetic Works 1993-2001 |publisher=[ECM Records](/source/ECM_Records) |access-date=2016-05-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160116023552/https://www.ecmrecords.com/Catalogue/ECM/2100/2182_83.php/?lvredir=712&cat=%25252FArtists%25252FBalke+Jon%252523%252523Jon+Balke&catid=0&doctype=Catalogue&order=releasedate&rubchooser=901&mainrubchooser=9 |archive-date=2016-01-16 |url-status=dead }} '''With [Batagraf](/source/Batagraf)''' *2005: ''Statements'' (ECM) *2011: ''Say and Play'' (ECM) *2016: ''On Anodyne'' ([Grappa](/source/Grappa_Music)) *2018: ''Delights of Decay '' ([Jazzland](/source/Jazzland_Recordings)) === As sideman === '''With [Radka Toneff](/source/Radka_Toneff)''' *1979: ''It Don't Come Easy'' ([PolyGram](/source/PolyGram)) *2008: ''Butterfly'' (Curling Legs), recorded 1976–77 '''With [Masqualero](/source/Masqualero)''' *1983: ''Masqualero'' ([Odin](/source/Odin_Records)) *1985: ''Bande a Parte'' (ECM) '''With [Oslo 13](/source/Oslo_13)''' *1983: ''Anti-Therapy'' (Odin) *1987: ''Off Balance'' (Odin) *1992: ''Nonsentration'' (ECM) *1994: ''Oslo 13 Live'' (Curling Legs) '''With others''' *1975: ''[Clouds in My Head](/source/Clouds_in_My_Head)'' (ECM), with [Arild Andersen Quartet](/source/Arild_Andersen) *1977: ''[Hi-Fly](/source/Hi-Fly_(Karin_Krog_and_Archie_Shepp_album))'' (Compendium), with [Karin Krog](/source/Karin_Krog) and [Archie Shepp](/source/Archie_Shepp) *1978: ''Høysang'' (NorDisc), with [Lars Klevstrand](/source/Lars_Klevstrand) and [Guttorm Guttormsen Kvintett](/source/Guttorm_Guttormsen) *1978: ''Club 7 jubileumsplate'' (Club 7), with Kråbøl and E'olén *1979: ''E'Olen'' (Mai), with [E'Olen](/source/E'Olen) *1986: ''A Hip Hop'' (Dragon), with Göran Klinghagen *1991: ''Live at Rockefeller'' (Odin), with [Jazzpunkensemblet](/source/Jazzpunkensemblet) *2002: ''Joko'' (ACT), with [Miki N'Doye Orchestra](/source/Miki_N'Doye) feat. [Paolo Vinaccia](/source/Paolo_Vinaccia), [Bugge Wesseltoft](/source/Bugge_Wesseltoft) and [Cissokho](/source/Cissokho) *2003: ''Trialogue'' (Imogena), with [Lars Møller](/source/Lars_M%C3%B8ller) and [Morten Lund](/source/Morten_Lund_(musician)) - trio *2007: ''[The Door](/source/The_Door_(Mathias_Eick_album))'' (ECM), with [Mathias Eick](/source/Mathias_Eick) *2010: ''The Adventures of a Polar Expedition'' (Cowbell Music), with [Hans Ulrik](/source/Hans_Ulrik), [Benjamin Koppel](/source/Benjamin_Koppel), [Palle Danielsson](/source/Palle_Danielsson) and [Alex Riel](/source/Alex_Riel) ==See also== {{Portal|Norway|Jazz|Music}} * [List of jazz pianists](/source/List_of_jazz_pianists) ==References== {{Reflist}} {{commons category|Jon Balke}} ==External links== * [https://www.jonbalke.info/ Official website] * [https://www.jonbalke.info/batagraf/ Batagraf official website] * [https://www.jonbalke.info/Siwan-project/ Siwan official website] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20121215140031/http://www.dagsavisen.no/nye-inntrykk/jazz/balkes-magnetiske-univers/ ''Balkes magnetiske univers''] {{s-start}} {{s-ach|aw}} {{s-bef | before = [Terje Bjørklund](/source/Terje_Bj%C3%B8rklund), [Knut Kristiansen](/source/Knut_Kristiansen) and [Espen Rud](/source/Espen_Rud)}} {{s-ttl | title = Recipient of the [Buddyprisen](/source/Buddyprisen) | years = 1984}} {{s-aft | after = [Terje Rypdal](/source/Terje_Rypdal)}} {{s-bef | before = [The Brazz Brothers](/source/The_Brazz_Brothers)}} {{s-ttl | title = Recipient of the Jazz [Gammleng-prisen](/source/Gammleng-prisen) | years = 2008}} {{s-aft | after = [Finn Sletten](/source/Finn_Sletten)}} {{s-end}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Balke, Jon}} Category:1955 births Category:Living people Category:Jazzland Recordings (1997) artists Category:20th-century Norwegian pianists Category:21st-century Norwegian pianists Category:Norwegian jazz pianists Category:Norwegian jazz composers Category:Jazz musicians from Oslo Category:Post-bop pianists Category:ECM Records artists Category:Odin Records artists Category:Curling Legs artists Category:1300 Oslo members Category:Jazzpunkensemblet members Category:JøKleBa members Category:Masqualero members Category:Musicians from Furnes, Norway --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Jon Balke](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Balke) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Balke?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.