Jazz Articles about Ellery Eskelin

Ellery Eskelin: Ten

by AAJ Staff
December 8, 2004

It would have been way too predictable if tenor saxophonist Ellery Eskelin had celebrated the tenth anniversary of his trio with accordionist/pianist/sampler player Andrea Parkins and drummer Jim Black by putting together another record like the seven they have already made. He's never been one to rest comfortably with the safe and sure--and to be honest, there's never been anything either safe or sure about his work with Parkins and Black, which is the reason they've remained a group to ...

Ellery Eskelin: Ten

by Sean Patrick Fitzell
November 26, 2004

Saxophonist Ellery Eskelin's trio has always defied conventional expectations. The unusual match of his powerful, melodic tenor with the experimental accordion, piano and sampler playing of Andrea Parkins and the inimitable drumming of Jim Black is now in its tenth year. To commemorate this milestone, Eskelin surprises again on Ten by throwing out composition and inviting guests: vocalist Jessica Constable, guitarist Marc Ribot and bassist Melvin Gibbs. The use of electric guitar and bass and the all-improvised program force the ...

Rob Price: At Sunset

by Franz A. Matzner
October 21, 2004

Jazz is no stranger to eclecticism. Musicians have been bending, breaking, reshaping, and reincorporating since the very beginning of jazz history. In fact, departing from jazz tradition might as well be the definition of jazz. If that is indeed the case, guitarist Rob Price has, with his current release, At Sunset , marked himself as a classical jazz composer and player. Combining everything from free improvisation to country, blues, and California surf music, Price has made a ...

Ellery Eskelin: Forms

by Jerry D'Souza
June 11, 2004

Though Ellery Eskelin introduced Drew Gress to Phil Haynes in 1986, they recorded their first album only two years later. Before then they joined forces with trumpeter Paul Smoker in a quartet called Joint Venture and recorded three albums as such. The understanding between the musicians grew stronger over that span of time and when Eskelin recorded Setting The Standard in 1988, his first release as a leader, it was apparent that he shared a cogent relationship with Gress and ...

Ellery Eskelin: Forms

by Kurt Gottschalk
May 21, 2004

In sixteen years of recording, Ellery Eskelin has focused much of his work on the trio. From Joey Baron’s unusual sax-bone-drum combo Baron Down (with Steve Swell on trombone) to his own bands (notably his trio with Andrea Parkins and Jim Black, which is marking its tenth anniversary this year), the three-piece has served Eskelin well. But even on his excellent Gene Ammons tribute The Sun Died (Soul Note, 1996) Eskelin sidestepped the traditional sax-bass-drum lineup, employing guitarist Marc Ribot ...

Ellery Eskelin

by AAJ Staff
October 29, 2003

By Sean Patrick Fitzell The framed promotional posters and paintings on the walls of saxophonist Ellery Eskelin's apartment tell a story. Mementos from European tours with his trio and collaborations with influential drummers Han Bennink and Daniel Humair fit comfortably alongside family photos. While illustrating the diversity of his projects and suggesting their importance to him, they also hint at the ironic reality for a New York City-based improvising musician - the need to constantly tour Europe. ...

Ellery Eskelin/Andrea Parkins/Jim Black: Arcanum Moderne

by AAJ Staff
September 25, 2003

It's hard to look at Arcanum Moderne without reference to the massive heap of recordings this particular trio has piled up over the years, which is both a good and bad thing, of course. There's something about the odd chemistry among Ellery Eskelin, Andrea Parkins, and Jim Black which has fueled endless live performance and ceaseless recorded unrest.

All three players subscribe to the school of purposeful unpredictability, sometimes setting up stark clashes that grab attention and other times falling ...