Tony Balluff

Tony Balluff has been playing clarinet for over 30 years. It was just ten years ago, however, that he began to seriously play jazz. In 1998 his training began in earnest when he met and began 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 that he will be involved in New Orleans music for the rest of his life. In addition to the Southside Aces and The Bill Evans New Orleans Jazz Band, Tony plays in a quartet dedicated to playing the music of Sidney Bechet (The Creole Four), as well as occasionally being seen "musicianing" with various Hot Club gypsy jazz bands. Finally, he lends his clarinet sound to the Brass Messengers, a brass band playing brass music from around the world.