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John Ellis
John Ellis is one of New York’s premiere tenor saxophone voices. With more than 150 album credits as a sideman, John has recorded with a wide variety of artists such as Charlie Hunter, Robert Glasper, Darcy James Argue, Helen Sung, Kendrick Scott Oracle, Dr. Lonnie Smith, and Sting. John was the 2nd place winner of the prestigious Thelonious Monk Saxophone Competition in 2002, he was the recipient of three composition grants through The Jazz Gallery for the creation of new work (“Dreamscapes”, “The Ice Siren”, and “MOBRO”) and he was selected as the 2014 Make Jazz Fellow by the 18th Street Arts Center in Santa Monica. John has released thirteen albums as a leader, three of those featuring his New Orleans-centered band Double-Wide, which has toured extensively and was featured on the Main Stage of the 2012 Newport Jazz Festival. He co-produced the music for the children’s book series “Baby Loves Jazz” with Aaron Goldberg, and he wrote the theme music for the NPR podcast, “Rough Translation.” “Say It Quiet”, his most recent album, is a collaboration with Glenn Patscha and Adam Levy. It was released on the Sunnyside record label in August of 2021.
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Erica von Kleist: Picc Pocket
by Jack Bowers
Those who favor puns and clever wordplay should get their kicks from the song titles alone on Picc Pocket, a splendid new recording by piccolo guru Erica von Kleist 's hand-picced--and fun-loving-- quartet and its spicc-tacular guest artists, trombonist Jennifer Krupa and tenor saxophonist John Ellis. The piccolo (a close cousin of the flute) isn't often heard in a jazz context, which makes the enterprise even more picc-taking and picc-turesque. Von Kleist is a master of the instrument ...
Continue ReadingDavy Mooney, Ko Omura: The Word
by Neri Pollastri
Il chitarrista statunitense Davy Mooney e il batterista giapponese Ko Omura riprendono in mano una collaborazione risalente al 2018, che aveva già fruttato l'album Benign Strangers, edito da Sunnyside, e che era stata bloccata dalla pandemia, a cui fa seguito questo The Word per la medesima etichetta. Il lavoro vede in azione la stessa formazione di allora, un quintetto completato dall'eclettico sassofonista e clarinettista John Ellis, dall'eccellente e ormai ben noto pianista Glenn Zaleski e dal contrabbassista Matt ...
Continue ReadingMaria Schneider Orchestra: American Crow
by Dan McClenaghan
Maria Schneider has a thing for birds. Credible sources have reported sightings of the jazz composer frequenting Central Park wearing a floppy hat, a pair of binoculars hanging from her neck. Her 20-plus minute “Cerulean Skies," from her album (one of her masterpieces) Sky Blue (ArtistShare, 2007) speaks to her love for birds; her fascination with their migratory nature and their arduous flights, which span continents and beyond. The composition “Bluebird," from the “Our Natural World"' half of her 2-disc ...
Continue ReadingJohn Ellis & Double Wide: Fireball
by Alberto Bazzurro
La spinta, la propulsione, la pienezza, che può generare la presenza di una tuba (o di un sousaphone, come accade qui) all'interno di un combo jazz è indiscutibile, generalmente tangibilissima, almeno se il suo impiego è di natura prevalentemente (ma non esclusivamente, attenzione) ritmica. Il Double Wide diretto ormai da quasi vent'anni dal cinquantunenne polistrumentista e compositore John Ellis ne è esempio quanto mai tipico. Ellis è nativo della Carolina del Nord, si è formato musicalmente a New ...
Continue ReadingJon Gordon: 7th Ave South
by Jack Bowers
Some of life's moments, even when buried in the past, remain almost as fresh and memorable as today's. Such is alto saxophonist Jon Gordon's memory of his first visit to New York City's then-jazz center, Greenwich Village's 7th Avenue South, which was “the first place [he] ever heard live jazz in New York." That was in 1983--nearly four decades ago--but that memory and those that followed were enough to inspire Gordon's latest album, appropriately titled 7th Ave South.
Continue ReadingEtienne Charles: Creole Orchestra Featuring René Marie
by Angelo Leonardi
A 18 anni di distanza dal debutto discografico in Culture Shock il trombettista originario di Trinidad & Tobago, si cimenta come bandleader di un ampio organico, in una lussureggiante sintesi di ritmi caraibici e orchestrazioni che vanno dalla tradizione Swing all'hip hop. L'orchestra è un ampliamento della sua storica Creole Soul Band e ospita la cantante René Marie in quattro brani. Etienne ha iniziato a scrivere per ampi organici a partire dalla collaborazione con la stessa cantante ...
Continue ReadingRudy Royston: DAY
by Vic Albani
Rudy Royston, batterista di prima classe (Bill Frisell, Dave Douglas, JD Allen, Ben Allison, Rudresh Mahanthappa e molti altri), approda con Day alla sua quinta uscita per l'etichetta del signor Dave Douglas, Greenleaf. Day è la seconda uscita dei Flatbed Buggy, vale a dire dell'avventuroso combo creato dal batterista con l'aiuto delle bass lines di Joe Martin, dei clarinetti di John Ellis, del violoncello di Hank Roberts e della fisarmonica di Gary Versace. L'idea base del lavoro omaggia la giovinezza ...
Continue ReadingJazz Musician of the Day: John Ellis
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating John Ellis' birthday today!
John Ellis is one of New York’s premiere tenor saxophone voices. With more than 150 album credits as a sideman, John has recorded with a wide variety of artists such as Charlie Hunter, Robert Glasper, Darcy James Argue, Helen Sung, Kendrick Scott Oracle, Dr. Lonnie Smith, and Sting. John was the 2nd place winner of the prestigious Thelonious Monk Saxophone Competition in 2002, he was the recipient of three composition grants ...
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Jazz Musician of the Day: John Ellis
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating John Ellis' birthday today!
The gifted, versatile saxophonist/clarinetist/composer John Ellis occupies an imaginary (and extremely imaginative) space directly between the celebratory, welcoming spirit of New Orleans and the edgy, frantic streets of New York City. Both as the leader of his own eclectic projects and as an in-demand sideman for a mind-boggling number and variety of artists, Ellis expresses a keen intellect and easy virtuosity while maintaining a mischievous gleam in his eye and never ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: John Ellis
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating John Ellis' birthday today!
The gifted, versatile saxophonist/clarinetist/composer John Ellis occupies an imaginary (and extremely imaginative) space directly between the celebratory, welcoming spirit of New Orleans and the edgy, frantic streets of New York City. Both as the leader of his own eclectic projects and as an in-demand sideman for a mind-boggling number and variety of artists, Ellis expresses a keen intellect and easy virtuosity while maintaining a mischievous gleam in his eye and never ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: John Ellis
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating John Ellis' birthday today!
The gifted, versatile saxophonist/clarinetist/composer John Ellis occupies an imaginary (and extremely imaginative) space directly between the celebratory, welcoming spirit of New Orleans and the edgy, frantic streets of New York City. Both as the leader of his own eclectic projects and as an in-demand sideman for a mind-boggling number and variety of artists, Ellis expresses a keen intellect and easy virtuosity while maintaining a mischievous gleam in his eye and never ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: John Ellis
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating John Ellis' birthday today!
“It\'s hard to say those two words next to each other and not smile," says John Ellis about Puppet Mischief, the title of the saxophonist\'s latest album with his band Double-Wide, to be released Feb. 23rd on ObliqSound. That statement— and the images conveyed by the album\'s intriguing title— applies equally to the music within. Puppet Mischief... Read more.
Place our Musician of the Day widget on your website or blog. ...
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Jazz Musician of the Day: John Ellis
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating John Ellis' birthday today! “It\'s hard to say those two words next to each other and not smile," says John Ellis about Puppet Mischief, the title of the saxophonist\'s latest album with his band Double-Wide, to be released Feb. 23rd on ObliqSound. That statement — and the images conveyed by the album\'s intriguing title — applies equally to the music within. Puppet Mischief... Read more. Place our Musician of the Day widget on your website ...
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John Ellis & Andy Bragen Present Mobro - A Narrative Chamber Piece At The Jazz Gallery, May 30 & 31
Source:
Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity
John Ellis & Andy Bragen Present The CD Release Celebration for MOBRO And the Official Launch of Ellis' New Label, Parade Light Records, May 30 & 31 at The Jazz Gallery, one set only @ 9:00 PM Featuring: Becca Stevens, Miles Griffith, Sachal Vasandani, Johnaye Kendrick, Shane Endsley, John Clark, Alan Ferber, Josh Roseman, Mike Moreno, Ryan Scott, Joe Sanders, Rodney Green, and Roberto Lange A New Work Commissioned by The Jazz Gallery in 2011, MOBRO marks the first CD ...
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Primary Instrument
Saxophone
Location
New York City
Willing to teach
Beginner to advanced
David Bertrand
woodwinds
Yuto Mitomi
saxophone, tenorPhotos
Music
Witness
From: 7th Ave SouthBy John Ellis
Gimmick
From: IntrospectionBy John Ellis
Mr. Weird
From: IntrospectionBy John Ellis
Narcissism
From: IntrospectionBy John Ellis
In Defense of the Minotaur
From: Little StoriesBy John Ellis
Lonnie
From: By a ThreadBy John Ellis
Swamba Redux
From: CopperopolisBy John Ellis
Videos
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John Ellis
Location: New York City
Instrument: Saxophone
Born: April 13, 1974
Publicist: Fully Altered Media
