Don Ellis

Don Ellis: How Time Passes to Essence Revisited

by Angelo Leonardi
March 24, 2025

Nelle storie del jazz Don Ellis è ricordato principalmente per l'innovativa big band che guidò per un decennio, dalla metà degli anni sessanta. Questa preziosa riedizione ci rammenta i suoi inizi di carriera, quando esplorava nuove soluzioni a partire dalla tromba: accoppia il suo debutto in quartetto (...How Time Passes...) dell'ottobre 1960 con alcuni brani di Essence, risalente al 1962. Il trombettista losangelino aveva appena compiuto 26 anni e registrava il primo album accompagnato dal pianista Jaki Byard, ...

George Russell: Ezz​-​thetics & The Stratus Seekers revisited

by Maurizio Comandini
June 27, 2022

George Russell è uno dei pilastri sui quali si è costruito il jazz moderno degli ultimi 70 anni. Forse non è uno dei primi nomi che ci vengono in mente, ma di sicuro il suo contributo come compositore, come band leader, come musicologo, è fondamentale. Nei primi anni sessanta i suoi album fornirono una interessante variante al free jazz 'classico' che abitualmente associamo ad Ornette Coleman, ad Albert Ayler, a Cecil Taylor e a tanti altri. Russell preferiva ...

Don Ellis: Haiku

by John Kelman
March 30, 2010

One of the more tragic casualties of the 1970s was Don Ellis. Emerging from the big bands of Maynard Ferguson, Charlie Barnet, and Ray McKinley, the trumpeter began releasing albums under his own name in the early 1960s, distanced from his mentors' more mainstream big band sound. Beginning in small ensembles with free-thinking players such as pianist Paul Bley and bassist Gary Peacock, Ellis proved himself a more experimental instrumentalist, a quality he carried over to a return to larger ...

Pieces Of Eight & The New Don Ellis Band Goes Underground

by Jim Santella
May 21, 2006

Known for his use of unusual meters and remarkable innovations, trumpeter Don Ellis gave the world plenty to think about. If it could be done in the manner that he prescribed, then there was no limit to what other bands could do either. We listened, we accepted, and we learned that we, too, could invent.

Ellis gave us the inspiration that we needed at a time when jazz was undergoing radical changes. These two albums represent both the ...

Don Ellis: Essence

by C. Andrew Hovan
November 11, 2005

A very interesting character, trumpeter and bandleader Don Ellis is probably best known for the big bands he led in the late '60s, which served as a vehicle for his experiments with electronics and unusual time signatures. Albums such as Electric Bath and Live in 3 2/3/4 Time are brimming with the excitement of an era that was filled with rebellion and a quest for individuality. In his own way then, Ellis brought a new outlook to the big band ...

Don Ellis: Essence

by Jim Santella
September 27, 2005

Originally released in 1962 on Pacific Jazz as P-55, this reissue has been a long time coming. It reveals the kernel of Don Ellis that later blossomed into a broad-based big bandleader who straddled the fence between mainstream jazz and free jazz. His intellectually complex compositions have always knocked the socks off listeners and performers alike.

Ellis wrote “Ostinato" in 1957 for the Seventh Army Jazz II orchestra in Germany. Its opening 7/8 meter, followed by simultaneous 5/8 ...

Don Ellis: Don Ellis at Fillmore

by Jim Santella
September 26, 2005

What a memorable album. I guess I grew up on this one. That was back when my hair still had color, my knees both worked quite well, and I still had that “fresh out of college" attitude that took me off in many directions at once.

Don Ellis takes you off on a whirlwind ride, using electronic trumpet, complex meters, superb big band arrangements, and a cast of experienced sidemen who blow the walls down. Lest you've forgotten ...

Don Ellis: Shock Treatment

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
November 20, 2019

One of the most fascinating and overlooked jazz orchestral leaders, arrangers and composers of the 1960s and '70s was Don Ellis. His scores were so ferociously busy and avant-garde, it's amazing he could find anyone who could play them. But he did, and those who signed on with him became ardent devotees. Nearly all of Ellis's leadership albums are worthy of a listen, and there were many of them—more than 20 in just over two decades. Ellis was often ahead ...
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Don Ellis New Rare CD "Live in India" 1978

Source: Gary Gillies
August 5, 2010

Now available: Never before heard recordings from Ellis's personal tapes; seven great tracks recorded in India in 1978. Twenty-page deluxe booklet packed with rare photos and comments from band members. Limited edition of only 1,000 copies worldwide. Available from sleepynightrecords.com Don Ellis was one of the most creative and innovative jazz musicians of all time and his influence is still being felt today. This is one of his last ever recordings in a small group. Track listing for Live in ...
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Don Ellis: "Electric Heart" Special Edition DVD Now Available

Source: CSP-Media
November 18, 2008

The Don Ellis Electric Heart Special Edition DVD is here! “The most comprehensive collection of Film & Music ever put together in a single media format on the incredible story of the Man, his Times and his Music, Donald Johnson Ellis (1934-1978)" Electric Heart Award Winning Feature Length Documentary Film, (ENGLISH),73 MINUTES, GENERAL AUDIENCES - Sights & Sounds Films / Sleepy Night Records 2008 Segment by Segment breakdown of the Film Extended Menu includes: Extra Interviews with Maynard ...
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Summer of "Love of Don Ellis" Film Tour 2008

Source: CSP-Media
August 25, 2008

Electric Heart Screenings include: Moondance International Film Festival (August 29 - September 1st) Boulder, Colorado Screenings date: Saturday, August 30th. The 51st Annual Monterey Jazz Festival (September 20th, 5:30pm Jazz Theater - Monterey, California (Music with Milcho Leviev, Screening & Discussion). Earshot Jazz Festival (October 18 - November 9) Screening dates: November 1 & 3. Northwest Film Forum. Great Britian & The British Isles DVD & CD Distributor Sleepy Night Records and Producer Gary Gillies has signed an Agreement with ...
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Electric Heart: Don Ellis Documentary Film (Coming in Early 2007)

Source: CSP-Media
February 2, 2007

Donald Johnson Ellis 1934-1978, the Man... his Times and most importantly his Music is explored in the Feature Length Documentary Film, ELECTRIC HEART -don ellis. The Story of the one of the most innovative Composer, Arranger, Writer and Musicians' of all time, Ellis was the first to create a fusion between Jazz-Rock & Classical music. Pulitzer winning Composer Gunther Schuller appears explaining Ellis as the advent of his own coined phrase “The Third Stream". Debuting his Orchestra in 1966 at ...
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Milcho Leviev Plays the Music of Don Ellis on "Multiple Personalities" (Mighty Quinn Productions)

Source: All About Jazz
August 30, 2006

Milcho Leviev plays the Music of Don Ellis Release Date: Tuesday August 29, 2006

Milcho Leviev-Piano

1. Pussy Wiggle Stomp 2. Possibilities 3. Homeless 4. Invincible 5. Simple Samba 6. Requiem for a Friendship 7. Indian Lady 8. Blues in Elf 9. Moondrops 10. Simple Samba (alternate take) 11. Pavane for a True Musical Prince 12. ...
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Ray Nance, Roy Ayers, Don Ellis, Pepper Adams, Harold Land, Eddie Condon, Edmond Hall Reissues on Mighty Quinn

Source: All About Jazz
June 4, 2006

Mighty Quinn Productions was developed out of my respect for music and the people who make it. Our goal is to reissue recordings by quality artists that have not yet been released on CD, or have sadly fallen out of print. We want to make sure that worthy albums in all genres of music aren't lost or forgotten. We also plan to produce compelling new artists who we believe should be heard. Mighty Quinn is committed to providing the best ...
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