John Axson Ellis (born April 13, 1974) is an American jazz saxophonist. He performed in the group Doublewide with Jason Marsalis.[1]
John Ellis | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | John Axson Ellis |
| Born | April 13, 1974 North Carolina |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instrument | Saxophone |
| Years active | 1990s–present |
| Labels | Hyena, Parade Light |
| Website | johnaxsonellis |
Career
editA native of North Carolina, Ellis learned clarinet and piano as a child.[2] During the 1990s in New Orleans he studied with Ellis Marsalis and performed with Brian Blade and Nicholas Payton.[3] He released his debut album, Language of Love, independently in 1996.[2] He received a music degree from the New School in New York City and won second place in the 2002 Thelonius Monk Institute of Jazz International Saxophone Competition.[2] He traveled to Africa as a cultural ambassador for the United States Information Agency.[3]
With playwright Andy Bragen Ellis composed the theatrical works Dreamscapes, The Ice Siren, and Mobro.[2][3] An album version of The Ice Siren with Gretchen Parlato on vocals was released in 2020.[2]
Ellis has worked with The Holmes Brothers, Charlie Hunter, John Patitucci, Lonnie Smith, Sting, Helen Sung, and Miguel Zenón.[2]
Discography
editAs leader/co-leader
edit- Roots, Branches & Leaves (Fresh Sound, 2002) – recorded in 2000
- One Foot in the Swamp (Hyena, 2005)
- By a Thread (Hyena, 2006)
- Dance Like There's No Tomorrow (Hyeana, 2008)
- Puppet Mischief (ObliqSound, 2010)
- It's You I Like (Criss Cross, 2012) – recorded in 2011
- MOBRO with Andy Bragen (Parade Light, 2014)
- Double Wide Charm (Parade Light, 2015)
- The Ice Siren with Andy Bragen (Parade Light, 2020)
As sideman
edit|
With Charlie Hunter
With Anne Mette Iversen
With Kat Edmonson
With Kendrick Scott
With Ben Sidran
With Lonnie Smith
|
With others
|
References
edit- ^ Swenson, John (September 1, 2010). New Atlantis: Musicians Battle for the Survival of New Orleans. Oxford University Press. p. 150. ISBN 978-0-19-977958-1. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f Collar, Matt. "John Ellis". AllMusic. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
- ^ a b c Panken, Ted (June 18, 2020). "John Ellis: Words and Tones". JazzTimes. Retrieved October 7, 2020.