Don Ellis
| Don Ellis | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Donald Johnson Ellis |
| Born |
July 25, 1934 Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Died | December 17, 1978 (aged 44) Hollywood, California, United States |
| Genres |
Jazz Big band Avant-garde Jazz fusion |
| Occupation(s) | Trumpeter, Composer, Arranger |
| Instruments | Trumpet, drums |
| Years active | 1956–1978 |
| Labels | CBS, Candid, Atlantic, Pacific Jazz, MPS/BASF |
| Associated acts | Stan Kenton, Maynard Ferguson |
Donald Johnson "Don" Ellis (July 25, 1934 – December 17, 1978) was an American jazz trumpeter, drummer, composer and bandleader. He is best known for his extensive musical experimentation, particularly in the area of unusual time signatures. Later in his life he worked as a film composer, among other works contributing a score to 1971's The French Connection and 1973's The Seven-Ups.
Ellis was born in Los Angeles, California, on July 25, 1934. His father was a Methodist minister and his mother a church organist. He attended West High School in Minneapolis, MN. After attending a Tommy Dorsey Big Band concert, he first became interested in jazz. Other early inspirations were Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie. He graduated from Boston University in 1956 with a music composition degree.
Ellis' first job was with the late Glenn Miller's band, then directed by Ray McKinley. He stayed with the band until September 1956, when he joined the U.S. Army's Seventh Army Symphony Orchestra and the Soldiers' Show Company. Ellis was transferred to Frankfurt, Germany for duty. In the Army band, Ellis met pianist Cedar Walton, and saxophonists Eddie Harris and Don Menza. While in that band Ellis had his first opportunity to compose and arrange for a big band.
After two years, Don Ellis left the Army band and moved to Greenwich Village in New York City. He was able to get some work, but mainly with dance bands and other local work. He toured briefly with bandleader Charlie Barnet and joined the Maynard Ferguson band in spring of 1959. He remained with Ferguson for nine months.
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