Andy Ballantyne is a saxophonist, arranger and composer in Toronto, Canada. A graduate of the Humber College and University of Toronto Jazz programmes, he also attended the Banff Centre Jazz Workshop in the late 80’s. Over the past 20 years Andy has had the good fortune to perform and/or record with many jazz greats, including Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass, Kenny Wheeler, Dave Holland, Don Byron, Vince Mendoza and Carla Bley. He is a regular member of John MacLeod’s Rex Hotel orchestra, The Paul Read Orchestra, Nimmons and Nine Now, and the Neufeld/Occhipinti Jazz Orchestra.

As a versatile performer in several different genres, Andy has performed for numerous musicals (“The Producers” was the most fun), recorded jingles and soundtracks, and backed up celebrities including Paul Anka, Petula Clark, Johnny Mathis, Gladys Knight and Donna Summer. He is currently on faculty at Humber College teaching saxophone, theory, and arranging/composition. Formed in 2006, the Andy Ballantyne Large Ensemble (ABLE) is an 11-piece band comprising some of Canada’s finest jazz musicians.