Biel Ballester

Biel Ballester was born in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. Biel studied classical guitar at the prestigious Luthier School of Barcelona, with teachers Alex Garrobé and Fernando Rodriguez. He also got private tuition from respected specialists like José Tomás, David Russell, Aniello Desiderio, Manuel Barrueco, Marco Socias, Hopkinson Smith and Jordi Savall. He graduated from Barcelona’s Conservatory in 2000. Biel’s impressive guitar technique, his very personal style -based on the Django Reinhardt manouche heritage, but incorporating the Mediterranean musical tradition-, as well as the beauty of his many original compositions, soon got him well established in the Spanish club and concert circuits. Subsequent demand for his awe-inspiring style enabled him to perform in other countries in Europe, Asia and The United States. Biel has performed in some of the most prestigious International Jazz Festivals like Barcelona, San Sebastian, Terrassa (Spain), Saint Gaudens, Colmar and Marciac (France), London and Edinburgh (United Kingdom), Bern (Switzerland) and Gouvy (Belgium). The guitarist has also been seen in the company of international Jazz stars such as The Rosenberg Trio, The Robin Nolan Trio, The Stephane Wrembel Trio, Hot Club de Norvège, Gustav Lundgren, Andreas Oberg, Tim Kliphuis, Joscho Stephan, Costel Nitescu, Christian Escoudé, Marcel Loeffler, Steeve Laffont, Howard Alden and David Reinhardt.