Wed 11/20 @ 7PM
Indiana guitarist Charlie Ballantine actually got a kind of late start on his instrument, taking it up at 15. But music was in his blood and in his home. His father, Scott Ballantine, was a blues musician who gigged extensively in area clubs, where his son frequently heard him play. He introduced Charlie to an array of music ranging from the Beatles and the Beach Boys, to guitarists such as Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Roy Buchanan, Wes Montgomery and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Ballantine went on to earn a degree in jazz studies from Indiana University’s noted music program in 2013.
Ballantine’s two latest albums, 2018’s Life Is Brief: The Music Of Bob Dylan and his new Cold Coffee reflect the territory his musical interests cover, incorporating rock, folk, pop, jazz and blues into his electric sound. The former features his interpretation of a dozen Dylan classics, with a title taken from a tune by The Band, another key influence. On Cold Coffee, Ballantine showcases his own compositions, along with a pair of standards.
That album was recorded with a trio, which he’ll be bringing to Nighttown for a show this week. Tickets are $15.
Cleveland Heights, OH 44106