A talented trumpeter with a vivid musical imagination and the willingness to try new things, Don Ellis led some of the most colorful big bands of the 1965-75 period. After graduating from Boston University, Ellis played in the big bands of Ray McKinley, Charlie Barnet, and Maynard Ferguson (he was featured with the latter on "Three More Foxes"), recorded with Charles Mingus, and played with George Russell's sextet (at the same time as Eric Dolphy). Ellis led four quartet and trio sessions during 1960-1962 for Candid, New Jazz, and Pacific Jazz, mixing together bop, free jazz, and his interest in modern classical music. However it was in 1965 when he put together his first orchestra that he really started to make an impression in jazz. Ellis's big bands were distinguished by their unusual instrumentation (which in its early days had up to three bassists and three drummers including Ellis himself), the leader's desire to investigate unusual time changes (including 7/8, 9/8, and even 15/16), its occasionally wacky humor (highlighted by an excess of false endings), and an openness towards using rock rhythms and (in later years) electronics. Ellis invented the four-valve trumpet and utilized a ring modulator and all types of wild electronic devices by the late '60s. By 1971, his band consisted of an eight-piece brass section (including French horn and tuba), a four-piece woodwind section, a string quartet, and a two-drum rhythm section. A later unrecorded edition even added a vocal quartet. Among Don Ellis's sidemen were Glenn Ferris, Tom Scott, John Klemmer, Sam Falzone, Frank Strozier, Dave MacKay, and the brilliant pianist (straight from Bulgaria) Milcho Leviev. The orchestra's most memorable recordings were Autumn, Live at the Fillmore, and Tears of Joy (all for Columbia). After suffering a mid-'70s heart attack, Ellis returned to live performing, playing the "superbone" and a later edition of his big band featured Art Pepper. Ellis's last recording was at the 1977 Montreux Jazz Festival, a year before his heart finally gave out.
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Billy May
Gil Evans
George Gruntz
Maynard Ferguson
Jazz - Released by MPS on 25 May 1973
The last album by Don Ellis' big band before the trumpeter suffered a heart attack that would ultimately cut short both his career and his life, this ...
24-Bit 192.0 kHz - Stereo
On sale -40%
Starting at kr61,79
Don Ellis, Milcho Leviev, David Cohen, JOHN GUERIN
Jazz - Released by MPS on 1 Jan 1973
This album is a very different Don Ellis record. Rather than using a big band, the trumpeter is well showcased while backed by a large string section ...
Soaring (192 Khz)
Starting at kr118,19
Don Ellis Polish Radio Jazz Archives, Vol. 2
Don Ellis, Wojciech Karolak Trio
Jazz - Released by Polskie Radio on 11 Mar 2013
Jazz - Released by Columbia - Legacy on 8 Sep 1971
At Fillmore
Jazz - Released by Columbia - Legacy on 25 Jun 2021
Jazz - Released by Schagerl Records on 18 Dec 2013
Pop - Released by SMSP on 11 Oct 1972
How Time Passes
Jazz - Released by Candid on 26 Feb 2008
Don Ellis - Live at the Jazz India Festival, 1978
Jazz - Released by Hindsight Records on 18 Jul 2013
Don Ellis, Don Ellis Band
Jazz - Released by Legacy Recordings on 5 Feb 1968
Jazz - Released by CoolNote on 1 Nov 2014
Electric Bath
Jazz - Released by Columbia - Legacy on 1 Jan 1967
For his first studio recording with his colorful big band, Don Ellis utilized five trumpets, three trombones, five reeds, Mike Lang on keyboards, thre ...
Live At Monteux (Live at Montreux)
Jazz - Released by Rhino Atlantic on 1 Jul 1977
Don Ellis' final record as a leader (he passed away from a bad heart in Dec. 1978) is a worthwhile effort. Ellis' large orchestra (four reeds, eight b ...
Live At Monterey
Jazz - Released by Blue Note Records on 1 Jan 1966
The first effort by the Don Ellis big band, as with all of his other orchestral projects, has yet to be reissued on CD. One of the most exciting new j ...
Shock Treatment
Don Ellis was such a talented trumpeter, composer, and organizer that everything he recorded as a leader has at least some unusual moments worth explo ...
The New Don Ellis Band Goes Underground
Jazz - Released by Columbia - Legacy on 7 Jul 1969
Soaring (96 Khz)
Live In 3 2/3/4 Time (Live)
Jazz - Released by Blue Note Records on 1 Oct 1966
The Don Ellis Orchestra really came into its own during the period covered by this CD (1966-1967), playing perfectly coherent solos in ridiculous time ...
New Ideas (Reissue)
Jazz - Released by Fantasy Records on 1 Jan 1961
On this 1961 quintet set for Prestige (with vibraphonist Al Francis, pianist Jaki Byard, bassist Ron Carter, and drummer Charlie Persip), Don Ellis ex ...
Columbia - Legacy
CoolNote
Hit Singles Records
Efor, S.L
Fantasy Records
Fresh Sound Records
Hindsight Records
Jasnet Records
Rhino Atlantic
SLEEPY NIGHT RECORDS
SMSP
Schagerl Records
Sleepy Night
Stardust Records
The Jazz Corner
24-Bit/192 kHz - Stereo