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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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Gili Lopes: Algures
![Read "Algures" reviewed by Doug Collette](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/coverart/large/f8b259602fc112991aef9eb56b99ebd5.jpg)
by Doug Collette
Bassist, composer, musical director and producer Gili Lopes is nothing if not an astute judge of talent. After all, for Algures (from an old Portuguese word meaning 'somewhere'), he has recruited a redoubtable case of accompanists, not the least of whom is saxophonist John Ellis, he of fruitful collaborations with Charlie Hunter and Miguel Zenon among others, as well as a string of diverse albums under his own name such as Dance Like There's No Tomorrow (Hyena, 2008) and Puppet ...
read moreDarcy James Argue's Secret Society: Dynamic Maximum Tension
![Read "Dynamic Maximum Tension" reviewed by Angelo Leonardi](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/coverart/large/de2145a85af63b676369687abf3ad234.jpg)
by Angelo Leonardi
Precursore nel 2009 (con l'innovativo Infernal Machines) del nuovo rinascimento orchestrale nel jazz, Darcy James Argue approda all'etichetta Nonesuch e pubblica il nuovo album in studio: un doppio CD realizzato con i consueti partner della Secret Society più l'aggiunta della cantante Cecile McLorin Salvant e della violinista Sara Caswell. A differenza degli ultimi due dischi, Dynamic Maximum Tension non è un'opera multimediale ma conserva la spinta visionaria animata dalla costante riflessione socio-politica. Spinta che si traduce in ...
read moreDarcy James Argue's Secret Society: Dynamic Maximum Tension
![Read "Dynamic Maximum Tension" reviewed by Katchie Cartwright](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/coverart/large/de2145a85af63b676369687abf3ad234.jpg)
by Katchie Cartwright
Darcy James Argue's superb double-album Nonesuch debut offers compositions written throughout his career. He turns to twentieth-century thinkers for ideas that can help us in the present, that we can reexamine and reconfigure for our own purposes." These include futurist designer Buckminster Fuller, cryptanalyst-computer scientist Alan Turing, composer-arranger Bob Brookmeyer, actress-screenwriter Mae West, trumpeter-mentor Laurie Frink, and musician-beyond-category Duke Ellington, among others. Like West, Argue seems to control his own path. He may not yet be the tycoon she was, ...
read moreEunmi Lee: Introspection
![Read "Introspection" reviewed by Jack Bowers](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/coverart/large/42322de6f885415edc7da553634134bd.jpg)
by Jack Bowers
Eunmi Lee is a quick learner. The South Korean-born pianist, who now makes her home in New York City, did not become acquainted with or interested in jazz until a friend introduced her to the GRP Records catalogue. That was more than a year after she had received a degree in contemporary piano from the Seoul Institute for the Arts, in 2005. Eager to learn more, Lee came to California in 2007 to take part in an open house at ...
read moreManuel Valera Quintet: Vessel
![Read "Vessel" reviewed by Chris May](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/coverart/large/d702f85582795e8577f71c8eb307c022.jpg)
by Chris May
Cuban born and raised, pianist and composer Manuel Valera moved to the US in 1994, attending high school in Florida before moving to New York City in 2000 to study at the New School. His classmates included Robert Glasper, Mike Moreno, Michael Rodriguez, Marcus Strickland and E.J. Strickland. Fast company. Valera's career as a leader moved up a notch when his band New Cuban Express received a Grammy nomination in 2013 for Best Latin Jazz Album for ...
read moreEunmi Lee: Introspection
![Read "Introspection" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/coverart/large/42322de6f885415edc7da553634134bd.jpg)
by Dan McClenaghan
Korean-born, New York-based pianist and composer Eunmi Lee opens her debut record, Introspection with her original composition, Gimmick." And, if there is a gimmick, it sounds as if it might be her strong compositional voice and her way with an arrangement. The tune features Alan Ferber on trombone, saxophonist John Ellis, a guitar, bass and drums rhythm section, and Lee in the piano chair. In spite of the album's title, this opener is a bright, sassy roller. Maybe the gimmick ...
read moreJeb Patton: Preludes
![Read "Preludes" reviewed by Jack Bowers](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/coverart/large/ceb3285bf5d2b464f2363fa3e8e795bb.jpg)
by Jack Bowers
A jazz quintet performing eight classically-inspired Preludes and Duke Ellington's wistful Prelude to a Kiss"? How could that possibly work? In the capable hands of pianist Jeb Patton (who wrote the Preludes) and his quintet, quite well, actually. Patton, who grew up in a household where listening to classical music was the norm, never forgot those early years even as he moved toward jazz and found his calling there. When Covid struck in 2020, Patton had time to revisit his ...
read moreJazz Musician of the Day: John Ellis
![Jazz Musician of the Day: John Ellis](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/musician/a1ddeb0deb7fec867e19493e96984170.jpg)
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 ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: John Ellis
![Jazz Musician of the Day: John Ellis](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/musician/a1ddeb0deb7fec867e19493e96984170.jpg)
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
![Jazz Musician of the Day: John Ellis](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/musician/a1ddeb0deb7fec867e19493e96984170.jpg)
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
![Jazz Musician of the Day: John Ellis](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/musician/a1ddeb0deb7fec867e19493e96984170.jpg)
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
![Jazz Musician of the Day: John Ellis](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/musician/a1ddeb0deb7fec867e19493e96984170.jpg)
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.
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Jazz Musician of the Day: John Ellis
![Jazz Musician of the Day: John Ellis](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/musician/a1ddeb0deb7fec867e19493e96984170.jpg)
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
![John Ellis & Andy Bragen Present Mobro - A Narrative Chamber Piece At The Jazz Gallery, May 30 & 31](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/musician/a1ddeb0deb7fec867e19493e96984170.jpg)
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, tenor
Location
New York City
Willing to teach
Beginner to advanced
David Bertrand
woodwindsYuto Mitomi
saxophone, tenorPhotos
Music
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