Jazz Articles about John Ellis

John Ellis & Double-Wide: Dance Like There's No Tomorrow

by Chris May
March 27, 2008

The tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, which laid waste to much of New Orleans in August 2005, has inspired a clutch albums lauding the city and its people, and lambasting the colossal failure of the US government to pick up the pieces. Some of these tributes have been heartfelt; others have appeared opportunistic, going on cynical. Until now, the most eloquent and credible has probably been trumpeter Terence Blanchard's magnificent A Tale Of God's Will (Blue Note, 2007), subtitled “A Requiem ...

Charlie Hunter Trio: Copperopolis

by Chris M. Slawecki
July 10, 2006

Charlie Hunter's first trio record since 2003's Friends Seen and Unseen balances his talents as a composer (he wrote or co-wrote every track except for the set-ending take of Monk's “Think of One ), as a bandleader, as a band member interplaying with drummer Derrek Phillips and John Ellis (tenor saxophone, bass clarinet, Wurlitzer organ and melodica), and as lead guitar hot shot.

Hunter rips the lid off with the first cut, “Cueball Bobbin', which crackles with the ...

John Ellis: Emerging

by R.J. DeLuke
June 19, 2006

Saxophonist John Ellis was known as one of the voices of the Charlie Hunter Trio, having toured with the eight-string guitarist in recent years. His searching sound can be heard on Hunter recordings like the recently released Copperopolis. Good years for Ellis, who was able to tour steadily and still work on building a solo career as one of the resourceful players on the scene.

But now appears to be the time for Ellis, 32, a country boy ...

John Ellis Quartet: Live At Yoshi's - July 18, 2005

by Mark Sabbatini
June 15, 2006

Saxophonist John Ellis' new album By A Thread is “an early runner for one of the best albums of 2006,"according to one AAJ review. Thanks to his free, two-set live performance available free at his Web site, he's got his hat in the download category as well.

This 2.5 hour session is first-rate in personnel, performance and audio quality, easily deserving of album status if Ellis choose to go that route. The unprotected MP3s are easily obtained--no registrations, ...

John Ellis: By a Thread

by Elliott Simon
May 24, 2006

Over the past several years, tenor saxophonist John Ellis has developed a powerfully funky style. More recently, he has stretched out to bass clarinet and ocarina, releasing two well-received sessions as a leader and maintaining his integral part in guitarist Charlie Hunter's well-known trio. On By a Thread Ellis has brought together a quintet that delivers the funk, but also shines on multifaceted compositions which define a more mature sound. These beautifully melodic pieces serve as springboards to more adventurous ...

John Ellis: By A Thread

by John Kelman
May 14, 2006

In contrast to the schizophrenic nature of John Ellis' previous effort, One Foot in the Swamp (Hyena Records, 2005), By A Thread is an altogether more coherent affair. The 2005 disc focused on consolidating musical experiences gained with artists as diverse as eight-string guitarist Charlie Hunter, pianist Robert Glasper and drummer Jason Marsalis, shifting from a New Orleans swagger to an urban New York City vibe. Despite being consistently engaging, it felt somehow divisive.

That's not to say there isn't ...

Charlie Hunter Trio: Copperopolis

by AAJ Staff
April 24, 2006

First-time encounters with Charlie Hunter in a live setting usually leave listeners numb with the realization of how much music Hunter can make with one instrument. It's a sobering experience to see him play melody, chordal accompaniment and bass lines all at once on his custom eight-string guitar--which is obviously a most unnatural feat, even though he's been honing it for quite some time. The way he loses control of his facial muscles in the process, often succumbing to a ...