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Keith Balla

Keith Balla

Keith Balla is a jazz drummer rooted in the New York bebop tradition, best known for his work with the Ari Roland Quartet, which has performed in more than 50 countries under the auspices of the U.S. Department of State since 2008. A native of Austin, Texas, he began playing drums at 13 and moved to New York at 17 to study in the jazz program at Purchase College, seeking the tutelage of drummers Kenny Washington and John Riley. He became a fixture of the community around Smalls Jazz Club, working closely with pianist Tardo Hammer and guitarists Pasquale and Luigi Grasso. Balla has shared the stage with elder statesmen of the music including pianist Freddie Redd, saxophonist Charles Davis, vocalist Annie Ross, and bebop pedagogue Barry Harris. He has performed at New York venues such as Smalls, Mezzrow, Smoke, Dizzy's Club, and Birdland.

Plays most with

Paul Gill Pasquale Grasso

Plays most at

Mezzrow
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Upcoming Shows
Tue, Oct 20 9:00 PM
Tardo Hammer Trio
Mezzrow
Mezzrow · Tue, Oct 20 · 9:00 PM & 10:30 PM
Tardo Hammer (Piano) · Lee Hudson (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Tickets + Calendar
Thu, Oct 22 6:30 PM
Ben Meigners Quartet
Ornithology
Ornithology · Thu, Oct 22 · 6:30 PM
Ben Meigners (Bass) · Stefano Doglioni (Bass Clarinet) · Pasquale Grasso (Guitar) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Tickets + Calendar
Mon, Oct 26 9:00 PM
Pasquale Grasso Trio
Mezzrow
Mezzrow · Mon, Oct 26 · 9:00 PM & 10:30 PM
Pasquale Grasso (Guitar) · Paul Gill (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Tickets + Calendar
Tue, Oct 27 9:00 PM
Greg Ruggiero Trio
Mezzrow
Mezzrow · Tue, Oct 27 · 9:00 PM & 10:30 PM
Greg Ruggiero (Guitar) · Vincent Dupont (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Tickets + Calendar
Sun, Nov 29 6:30 PM
Raphael D’lugoff Trio
Cafe Ornithology
Cafe Ornithology · Sun, Nov 29 · 6:30 PM
Raphael D'Lugoff (Piano) · Ari Roland (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Tickets + Calendar
Past Shows
Wed, Oct 14
Jon Roche Trio
Cafe Ornithology
Cafe Ornithology · Wed, Oct 14
Jon Roche (Bass) · Ray Macchiarola (Guitar) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Mon, Oct 12
Pasquale Grasso Trio
Mezzrow
Mezzrow · Mon, Oct 12
Pasquale Grasso (Guitar) · Luca Pisani (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Sun, Oct 4
Jinjoo Yoo Trio
Cafe Ornithology
Cafe Ornithology · Sun, Oct 4
Jinjoo Yoo (Piano) · Aidan O'Donnell (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Sat, Oct 3
Jacob Chung Quintet
Smalls Jazz Club
Smalls Jazz Club · Sat, Oct 3
Jacob Chung (Tenor Saxophone) · Mason Millard (Trumpet) · Bruce Acosta (Guitar) · Ari Roland (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Fri, Oct 2
Jacob Chung Quintet
Smalls Jazz Club
Smalls Jazz Club · Fri, Oct 2
Jacob Chung (Tenor Saxophone) · Mason Millard (Trumpet) · Bruce Acosta (Guitar) · Ari Roland (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Thu, Sep 24
Zaid Nasser Trio
Cafe Ornithology
Cafe Ornithology · Thu, Sep 24
Zaid Nasser (Saxophone) · Ari Roland (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Wed, Sep 23
Adam Gay Quartet
Cafe Ornithology
Cafe Ornithology · Wed, Sep 23
Adam Gay (Bass) · Chris Byars (Saxophone) · Jinjoo Yoo (Piano) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Tue, Sep 22
Tardo Hammer Trio
Mezzrow
Mezzrow · Tue, Sep 22
Tardo Hammer (Piano) · Lee Hudson (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Mon, Sep 21
Pasquale Grasso Trio
Mezzrow
Mezzrow · Mon, Sep 21
Pasquale Grasso (Guitar) · Luca Pisani (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Sun, Sep 20
Jon De Lucia’s Dave Brubeck Octet Project
Birdland
Birdland · Sun, Sep 20
Jon De Lucia (Alto Saxophone) · Scott Robinson (Tenor Saxophone) · Brandon Lee (Trumpet) · Becca Patterson (Trombone) · Jay Rattman (Clarinet, Baritone Saxophone) · Glenn Zaleski (Piano) · Daniel Duke (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Sun, Sep 20
Tardo Hammer Trio
Ornithology
Ornithology · Sun, Sep 20
Tardo Hammer (Piano) · Lee Hudson (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Mon, Sep 7
Pasquale Grasso Trio
Mezzrow
Mezzrow · Mon, Sep 7
Pasquale Grasso (Guitar) · Paul Gill (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Sun, Sep 6
Stefano Doglioni Quartet
Ornithology
Ornithology · Sun, Sep 6
Stefano Doglioni (Bass Clarinet) · Pasquale Grasso (Guitar) · Ari Roland (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Mon, Aug 31
Pasquale Grasso Trio
Mezzrow
Mezzrow · Mon, Aug 31
Pasquale Grasso (Guitar) · Daniel Duke (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Thu, Aug 27
Zaid Nasser Trio
Cafe Ornithology
Cafe Ornithology · Thu, Aug 27
Zaid Nasser (Saxophone) · Ari Roland (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Tue, Aug 25
Yaala Ballin Quartet
One Flight Up
One Flight Up · Tue, Aug 25
Yaala Ballin (Vocals) · Tardo Hammer (Piano) · Ari Roland (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Sun, Aug 23
Yaala Ballin Quartet
Mezzrow
Mezzrow · Sun, Aug 23
Yaala Ballin (Vocals) · Chris Flory (Guitar) · Ari Roland (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Sun, Aug 23
Chris Byars Sextet
Smalls Jazz Club
Smalls Jazz Club · Sun, Aug 23
Chris Byars (Tenor Saxophone) · Zaid Nasser (Alto Saxophone) · John Mosca (Trombone) · Stefano Doglioni (Clarinet) · Ari Roland (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Tue, Aug 18
Tardo Hammer Trio
Mezzrow
Mezzrow · Tue, Aug 18
Tardo Hammer (Piano) · Lee Hudson (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Mon, Aug 17
Pasquale Grasso Trio
Mezzrow
Mezzrow · Mon, Aug 17
Pasquale Grasso (Guitar) · Paul Gill (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Sun, Aug 16
Pete Malinverni
Ornithology
Ornithology · Sun, Aug 16
Pete Malinverni (Piano) · Paul Gill (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Sun, Aug 16
Tardo Hammer
Ornithology
Ornithology · Sun, Aug 16
Tardo Hammer (Piano) · Lee Hudson (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Wed, Aug 12
Greg Ruggiero Trio
Cafe Ornithology
Cafe Ornithology · Wed, Aug 12
Greg Ruggiero (Guitar) · Vincent Dupont (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Sun, Aug 2
Nat Harris Quartet
Cafe Ornithology
Cafe Ornithology · Sun, Aug 2
Nat Harris (Guitar) · Jeb Patton (Piano) · Yuma Takagi (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Sun, Jul 26
Stefano Doglioni
Ornithology
Ornithology · Sun, Jul 26
Stefano Doglioni (Bass Clarinet) · Bruce Acosta (Guitar) · Daniel Duke (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Thu, Jul 23
Zaid Nasser Trio
Cafe Ornithology
Cafe Ornithology · Thu, Jul 23
Zaid Nasser (Saxophone) · Daniel Duke (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Wed, Jul 22
JinJoo Yoo Trio
Mezzrow
Mezzrow · Wed, Jul 22
Jinjoo Yoo (Piano) · Daniel Duke (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Tue, Jul 21
Tardo Hammer Trio
Mezzrow
Mezzrow · Tue, Jul 21
Tardo Hammer (Piano) · Lee Hudson (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Mon, Jul 20
Pasquale Grasso Trio
Mezzrow
Mezzrow · Mon, Jul 20
Pasquale Grasso (Guitar) · Paul Gill (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Sun, Jul 19
Pete Malinverni
Ornithology
Ornithology · Sun, Jul 19
Pete Malinverni (Piano) · Paul Gill (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Sun, Jul 19
Tardo Hammer
Ornithology
Ornithology · Sun, Jul 19
Tardo Hammer (Piano) · Lee Hudson (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Wed, Jul 8
Stefan Vasnier Trio
Mezzrow
Mezzrow · Wed, Jul 8
Stefan Vasnier (Piano) · Daniel Duke (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Tue, Jul 7
Greg Ruggiero Trio
Mezzrow
Mezzrow · Tue, Jul 7
Greg Ruggiero (Guitar) · Daniel Duke (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Mon, Jul 6
Pasquale Grasso Trio
Mezzrow
Mezzrow · Mon, Jul 6
Pasquale Grasso (Guitar) · Paul Gill (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Sun, Jul 5
Angela Roberts Quartet
Mezzrow
Mezzrow · Sun, Jul 5
Angela Roberts (Vocals) · Tardo Hammer (Piano) · Paul Gill (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Wed, Jul 1
Dan Weisselberg
Ornithology
Ornithology · Wed, Jul 1
Dan Weisselberg (Bass) · Tardo Hammer (Piano) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Tue, Jun 30
Neal Miner Trio
Mezzrow
Mezzrow · Tue, Jun 30
Neal Miner (Bass) · Michael Kanan (Piano) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Mon, Jun 29
Stefano Doglioni Quartet
Mezzrow
Mezzrow · Mon, Jun 29
Stefano Doglioni (Clarinet) · Brother Alexander (Guitar) · Ari Roland (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Sun, Jun 28
Stefano Doglioni
Ornithology
Ornithology · Sun, Jun 28
Stefano Doglioni (Bass Clarinet) · Brother Alexander (Guitar) · Ari Roland (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Thu, Jun 25
Zaid Nasser Quartet
Cafe Ornithology
Cafe Ornithology · Thu, Jun 25
Zaid Nasser (Saxophone) · Alexander Brott (Guitar) · Ari Roland (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Wed, Jun 24
Adam Frumkin Trio
Cafe Ornithology
Cafe Ornithology · Wed, Jun 24
Adam Frumkin (Saxophone) · Dan Weisselberg (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Sun, Jun 21
Tardo Hammer
Ornithology
Ornithology · Sun, Jun 21
Tardo Hammer (Piano) · Lee Hudson (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Tue, Jun 16
Tardo Hammer Trio
Mezzrow
Mezzrow · Tue, Jun 16
Tardo Hammer (Piano) · Lee Hudson (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Mon, Jun 15
Pasquale Grasso Trio
Mezzrow
Mezzrow · Mon, Jun 15
Pasquale Grasso (Guitar) · Paul Gill (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Fri, Jun 5
Pasquale Grasso
Ornithology
Ornithology · Fri, Jun 5
Pasquale Grasso (Guitar) · Paul Gill (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Mon, Jun 1
Pasquale Grasso Trio
Mezzrow
Mezzrow · Mon, Jun 1
Pasquale Grasso (Guitar) · Paul Gill (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Sun, May 31
Jinjoo Yoo Trio
Cafe Ornithology
Cafe Ornithology · Sun, May 31
Jinjoo Yoo (Piano) · Daniel Duke (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Sun, May 31
Jam Session
Late Night Jam Hosted By Kihong Jang
Cafe Ornithology
Cafe Ornithology · Sun, May 31
Kihong Jang (Guitar) · Daniel Duke (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Sun, May 24
Nick Green
Ornithology
Ornithology · Sun, May 24
Nick Green (Alto Saxophone) · Steve Ash (Piano) · Charlie Himel (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Sun, May 24
Stefano Doglioni
Ornithology
Ornithology · Sun, May 24
Stefano Doglioni (Bass Clarinet) · Pasquale Grasso (Guitar) · Ari Roland (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Tue, May 19
Tardo Hammer Trio
Mezzrow
Mezzrow · Tue, May 19
Tardo Hammer (Piano) · Dan Weisselberg (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Mon, May 18
Pasquale Grasso Trio
Mezzrow
Mezzrow · Mon, May 18
Pasquale Grasso (Guitar) · Paul Gill (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Sun, May 17
Pete Malinverni
Ornithology
Ornithology · Sun, May 17
Pete Malinverni (Piano) · Paul Gill (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Sun, May 17
Tardo Hammer
Ornithology
Ornithology · Sun, May 17
Tardo Hammer (Piano) · Paul Sikivie (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Sat, May 16
Pete Malinverni Trio
Mezzrow
Mezzrow · Sat, May 16
Pete Malinverni (Piano) · Paul Gill (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Fri, May 15
Pete Malinverni Trio
Mezzrow
Mezzrow · Fri, May 15
Pete Malinverni (Piano) · Paul Gill (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Thu, May 14
Brandon Suarez Quintet
Smalls Jazz Club
Smalls Jazz Club · Thu, May 14
Brandon Suarez (Tenor Saxophone) · Stefano Doglioni (Clarinet) · Tyler Henderson (Piano) · Caleb Tobocman (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Tue, May 5
Ben Meigners Quartet
Smalls Jazz Club
Smalls Jazz Club · Tue, May 5
Ben Meigners (Bass) · Chris Byars (Tenor Saxophone) · Jack Glottman (Piano) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Wed, Apr 29
Joe Wittman Trio
Mezzrow
Mezzrow · Wed, Apr 29
Joe Wittman (Guitar) · Daniel Duke (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Sun, Apr 26
Nick Green
Ornithology
Ornithology · Sun, Apr 26
Nick Green (Alto Saxophone) · Kihong Jang (Guitar) · Jinjoo Yoo (Piano) · Daniel Duke (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Sun, Apr 26
Stefano Doglioni
Ornithology
Ornithology · Sun, Apr 26
Stefano Doglioni (Bass Clarinet) · Bruce Acosta (Guitar) · Ari Roland (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Sat, Apr 25
Dan Weisselberg Trio
Cafe Ornithology
Cafe Ornithology · Sat, Apr 25
Dan Weisselberg (Bass) · Tardo Hammer (Piano) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Mon, Apr 6
Pasquale Grasso Trio
Mezzrow
Mezzrow · Mon, Apr 6
Pasquale Grasso (Guitar) · Paul Gill (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Tue, Mar 24
Tardo Hammer Trio
Mezzrow
Mezzrow · Tue, Mar 24
Tardo Hammer (Piano) · Lee Hudson (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Sat, Mar 21
Ned Goold
Ornithology
Ornithology · Sat, Mar 21
Ned Goold (Saxophone) · Davis Whitfield (Piano) · Lolivone de la Rosa (Guitar) · Reid Taylor (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Mon, Mar 16
Pasquale Grasso Trio
Mezzrow
Mezzrow · Mon, Mar 16
Pasquale Grasso (Guitar) · Paul Gill (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Sun, Mar 8
Tardo Hammer
Ornithology
Ornithology · Sun, Mar 8
Tardo Hammer (Piano) · Lee Hudson (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Thu, Mar 5
Nat Harris Quartet
Mezzrow
Mezzrow · Thu, Mar 5
Nat Harris (Guitar) · Marc Devine (Piano) · Hide Tanaka (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Mon, Mar 2
Steve Ash Trio
Mezzrow
Mezzrow · Mon, Mar 2
Steve Ash (Piano) · Paul Gill (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Sun, Mar 1
Jinjoo Yoo
Ornithology
Ornithology · Sun, Mar 1
Jinjoo Yoo (Piano) · Daniel Duke (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Sun, Feb 22
Stefano Doglioni
Ornithology
Ornithology · Sun, Feb 22
Stefano Doglioni (Bass Clarinet) · Sacha Perry (Piano) · Daniel Duke (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)
Sat, Feb 21
Richard Clements Quartet
Cafe Ornithology
Cafe Ornithology · Sat, Feb 21
Richard Clements (Piano) · Stefano Doglioni (Bass Clarinet) · Clovis Nicolas (Bass) · Keith Balla (Drums)