Tony Balluff
Tony has been playing clarinet for 35 years. It wasn’t until 1998, however, that he began to seriously play jazz. It was then his training began in earnest when he met and started playing with The Bill Evans New Orleans Jazz Band, featuring original members of The Hall Brothers Jazz Band. He is fairly steeped in the tradition now, and has a certain knowledge he will be involved with New Orleans music for the rest of his life. In addition to the Southside Aces and Bill Evans New Orleans Jazz Band, Tony plays in two quartets, one dedicated to playing the music of Sidney Bechet (The Creole Four), and one led by accordionist Patrick Harrison (Patty and the Buttons), which also plays New Orleans music. He occasionally can be seen “musicianing” with various Hot Clubs, as well as The Brass Messengers, a brass band playing brass music from around the world. Tony Balluff
Balluff, pronounced "ball-oof" back in the Old Country, is German for "big head." Tony was born with a Bunyanesque noggin, and from a tender age his mother propped it up by putting a clarinet in his mouth. Once he grew a large enough body to break his dependence on the clarinet as a buttress, he began playing in earnest.
In school he earned the nickname "Back Row" on account of seating assignments designed to keep Tony from obstructing other student's sightlines. When he gained principal clarinetist in concert band, however, his director had to commission custom-built three-foot batons to prevent the neck injuries fourth and fifth chair students sustained craning their necks.
This brings up a question: does a big head mean a big brain? Or a thick skull? With the Aces, Tony is known as "The Secret Weapon". Those in the big brain camp theorize it is surely the prodigious accumulation of music knowledge stored in Tony’s colossal cranium. But his bandmates know better. If they could have a dollar for every time Tony subdued an unruly dancer with a headbutt, or opened a stuck hotel room door headfirst, they would be rich men indeed. Vast brains may create better art, but thick skulls are far more practical.
When Tony’s not playing his beloved jazz, he can be found searching, mostly in vain, for hats.
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