John Ellis (saxophonist)

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 nameJohn Axson Ellis
Born (1974-04-13) April 13, 1974
North Carolina
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Musician
InstrumentsSaxophone
Years active1990s–present
LabelsHyena, Parade Light
Websitejohnaxsonellis.com

Career

A 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 Thelonious Monk piano 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

As leader
  • Roots, Branches & Leaves (Fresh Sound, 2002)
  • 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)
  • MOBRO (Parade Light, 2014)
  • Double Wide Charm (Parade Light, 2015)
  • The Ice Siren (Parade Light, 2020)

As sideman

With Charlie Hunter

  • Songs from the Analog Playground (Blue Note, 2001)
  • Right Now Move (Ropeadope, 2003)
  • Friends Seen and Unseen (Ropeadope, 2004)
  • Copperopolis (Ropeadope, 2006)

With Anne Mette Iversen

  • Milo Songs (Bjurecords, 2011)
  • So Many Roads (Bjurecords, 2014)
  • Round Trip (Bjurecords, 2016)
  • Racing a Butterfly (Bjurecords, 2020)

With others

References
  1. 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.
  2. Collar, Matt. "John Ellis". AllMusic. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  3. Panken, Ted (June 18, 2020). "John Ellis: Words and Tones". JazzTimes. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
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