JazzTimes is honored to premiere the video for “Strange Idea” by the Charlie Ballantine Trio, filmed live as the track was being cut at Postal Recording in Indianapolis, Ind. Written by Ballantine, “Strange Idea” features him on electric guitar, accompanied by bassist Jesse Wittman and drummer Chris Parker. The track will open up Ballantine’s fifth album as a leader, Cold Coffee, due to be released by Charlie Ballantine Music on July 19.
Based in Indianapolis (he currently teaches guitar performance at Marian University), Ballantine takes an eclectic approach to his chosen instrument, filtered through influences that range from Wes Montgomery and John Scofield to Jimi Hendrix and Jeff Beck. His previous album, Where Is My Mind?, covered the Pixies song of the same name; the album before that, Life Is Brief, was composed entirely of pieces from the Bob Dylan catalog. In contrast, Cold Coffee boasts standards like “My One and Only Love” and “East of the Sun” alongside new originals.
Of this particular track, its author says: “‘Strange Idea’ was the first tune I wrote for this record and it felt like it came out of left field. It wasn’t like anything I had written before and it helped give shape and direction to what the album was going to be.”
For more information about Charlie Ballantine, visit his website at charlieballantine.com.
