Greg Ellis (musician)

Greg Ellis is an American drummer and percussionist, known for his work in film and world music,[1][2] living in Los Angeles. He has performed and recorded with artists from almost every continent, including Zakir Hussain, Airto, KODO, Mickey Hart’s Planet Drum, Juno Reactor, Billy Idol, Sonu Nigam, Sussan Deyhim, Hamed Nikpay, Bickram Ghosh, Chiwoniso Maraire, Sugizo and many more.[3][4]

Percussionist Greg Ellis in studio, 2008.

At the start of his career as a touring and session drummer, Ellis discovered hand percussion after reading Mickey Hart’s “Drumming At The Edge Of Magic.” He began collecting percussion instruments during his travels around the world as a touring musician. The instruments and music from these cultures sensitized Ellis to a different form of melody and composition than his Western classical background offered. Ellis started composing music around rhythm.

He eventually formed the music duo Vas[3] and signed with Narada/Virgin in 1997. Vas went on to release four successful and critically acclaimed albums as well as a solo CD ‘Kala Rupa.’[5] His percussion work in Vas drew the attention of some of the top film composers and Ellis is now a featured performer on over 100 film scores.

As a passionate advocate for the healing and therapeutic aspects of organic sound and rhythm, Ellis co-created RhythmPharm, a space to receive organic rhythm and sound therapy. Through RhythmPharm, he released the 7-CD box set of ‘Rhythm Tonics,’ which are used by both alternative and mainstream health practitioners worldwide. RhythmPharm is also a platform for Ellis to express his deepening concern of the adverse effects electronic rhythm is having on culture and society as a whole.

Greg was recently spotted in Pune, Maharashtra, India. During Ganesh festival, he was seen playing the drums on streets along with a group of local drum players.