| Jazz |
Charlie Ballantine is a guitarist whose instrumental finesse may well call to mind the delicate touch of Chet Atkins. In this album, he offers a jazz/picking blend, steeped in the lingering echoes of Wes Montgomery and Freddie Hubbard that still seem to float in the city’s air. Since relocating to the East Coast a few years ago, the change in scenery, the new collaborators, and the vibrant atmosphere have infused his music with a fresh dynamic; most notably in the deep musical connection shared here with acclaimed New York drummer Dan Weiss. Longtime companion and fellow Indiana native Quinn Sternberg completes the trio on bass, bringing with him years of experience forged in the rich musical landscape of New Orleans.
A native of Baltimore, Ballantine appears deeply rooted in tradition; so much so that this album could easily have been recorded in the 1950s without losing any of its depth or texture. Only the clarity of digital recording and the precision of the mix betray its contemporary origins.
Named among the 200 best living guitarists by All About Jazz Magazine, Charlie Ballantine is hailed as one of the most gifted and versatile young guitarists on today’s scene. Jazz Times Magazine praises his playing as “overflowing with intricate grooves and manic precision; his guitar work is both beautiful and complex,” while Vintage Guitar Magazine aptly observes: “Jazz, rock, and folk music coexist peacefully in Charlie Ballantine’s world.”
It is perhaps this last observation that captures the essence of the album most accurately. Indeed, these are the very elements that emerge throughout the recording, most strikingly in his rendition of the Beatles’ “Strawberry Fields Forever.” Far from a mere reinterpretation, Ballantine deconstructs the song’s melodic essence with almost professorial rigor. As a result, it becomes difficult to pin him down to any singular style. Not all listeners will embrace this album, which leans heavily; and even radically; on the guitar. In the end, one may find that Ballantine is perhaps at his most compelling when supporting other artists. Here, by placing his own instrument so squarely at the center, a certain fatigue sets in after a few tracks.
His technical prowess is undeniable, but leading an album is a subtle art that demands musical writing balanced across all members of the ensemble. In this trio configuration, Ballantine seems to undertake a demanding exercise in style; one that proves challenging to navigate.
That said, musicians and aspiring guitarists will find much to study and admire in this work and its techniques. Given the difficulty of achieving such a project, one must acknowledge that offering criticism is no easy task.
Thierry De Clemensat
USA correspondent for Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor in chief – Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, April 7th 2025
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Musicians : Charlie Ballantine guitar ; Quinn Sternberg bass ; Dan Weiss drums
Titles : Storyteller ; Runaround ; Trinkle, Tinkle ; Strawberry Fields Forever ; Modern Bohemian ; Tomorrow Never Knows ; Cigarette Siren ; When Will the Blues Leave ; Alameda
Music by Charlie Ballantine, except:
(3) Thelonious Monk
(4, 6) Lennon/ McCartney
(8) Ornette Coleman
(9) Elliot Smith
Produced by Charlie Ballantine
Recorded, mixed & mastered by Tyler Watkins
at Postal Recording, Indianapolis, IN
Recorded on May 8th & 9th, 2024
Photos by Fred Miller
Cover design & layout by John Bishop