Don Ellis Lives

Don Ellis Jazz Festival Montreux, July 9, 1977. Don Ellis tp., el-tp., fl-h., Glenn Stuart tp., Gilman Rathel tp., Jack Coan tp., Alan Kaplan tb., Richard Bullock b-tb., Sidney Muldrow fr-h., Jim Self tuba, Ann Patterson as., ss., oboe, fl., pic., Ted Nash fl., as., cl., James Coile ts., fl., cl., James Snodgrass bs., pic., fl., oboe, b-cl., Pam Tompkins viol., Laurie Badessa viol., Jimbo Ross viola, Paula Hochhalter cello, Randy Kerber p., e-p., clavinet, synth., Darrell Clayborn b., Leon Gaer e-b., synth., Dave Crigger dr., Mike Englander dr., Chino Valdes perc., Ruth Ritchie perc.

Don Ellis was a pioneering American jazz trumpeter, composer, and bandleader, known for his innovative approach to jazz that blended complex time signatures, Eastern European influences, and modern electronics. His work, particularly in the late 1960s and 1970s, pushed jazz boundaries and introduced a unique, experimental sound that resonated with both jazz and rock audiences.

Ellis was fascinated with unconventional time signatures and rhythms. He explored complex meters such as 5/4, 7/4, and even 19/8, which were rare in jazz at the time. His album Electric Bath featured these innovations and won him a Grammy nomination.

Blending jazz with influences from Eastern Europe, India, and rock, Ellis helped create a sound that was both challenging and accessible, appealing to younger audiences at the height of the jazz-rock fusion era.

Ellis was one of the first jazz musicians to experiment with electronic effects on his trumpet, using devices like the ring modulator to produce unusual, futuristic sounds. This contributed to the psychedelic and avant-garde appeal of his music.

Ellis composed several film scores, with the most notable being his work on The French Connection (1971), for which he received critical acclaim. His score was distinctively intense and contributed to the film’s gripping atmosphere.

His big band arrangements expanded the scope of what large jazz ensembles could accomplish, influencing later jazz composers and big band leaders. He challenged traditional big band sounds with unconventional instrumentation and structures.

Don Ellis’s work broadened the definition of jazz, especially in terms of rhythm and instrumentation, and he left a lasting influence on both jazz musicians and composers who sought to innovate within the genre.

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