Full name: Donald Johnson Ellis
Born: 7.25.34 Los Angeles, CA
Died: 12.17.78 Hollywood, CA

Don Ellis was a talented trumpeter/composer/arranger who is probably best known for leading the amazing Don Ellis Orchestra. His music is beyond catagory, and if you haven't had the chance to hear Don and his band on record, you are being aurally deprived.

Don's big band experience included stints with Ray McKinley, Charlie Barnet, and Maynard Ferguson. Some small group activity followed, as Don was featured with Charles Mingus and George Russell. He soon formed his own groups, featuring advanced players like Paul Bley, Jaki Byard, Ron Carter, and Steve Swallow.

Don truly hit his stride in 1966 when he formed his unconventional orchestra. Jazz, rock, Eastern music, classical, avant-garde…the Don Ellis Orchestra tackled it all (sometimes in the context of the same song). He employed the use of odd time signatures, and his band played the most complex charts with alarming ease. Don began playing a four-valved trumpet that allowed him to play quarter tones, and he was very open to utilizing the latest electronics, such as ring modulators and echoplexes. He also started doubling on drums. Some of Don's sidemen included John Klemmer, Frank Strozier, Glenn Stuart, Tom Scott, Glenn Ferris, Dave MacKay, Ralph Humphrey, Jay Graydon, and Milcho Leviev.

Don died in 1978 from his second heart attack at the age of 44. Seldom few since then have mourned his passing.

Unfortunately, few of Don's albums have been reissued on CD. Most of them were originally released on the Columbia label. Check out the albums section to see what's available.

A Personal Aside
I first became aware of Don's music in high school. Our jazz ensemble played a chart of his called "The Last Tangle of Lord Boogie," which was a shuffle in 9/4 (with an occasional 7/8 bar, if I remember correctly). The tune wasn't really my favorite, but what got my attention were the weird notes written in the margins of arrangement. The very specific notations (ie, the tenor solo part said "Hum into the horn like Gato Barbieri") made me think "Who is this guy?" I looked for his albums at the local record store, no luck (big suprise).

I eventually stumbled across a copy of the At Fillmore album in a used vinyl store. After my first listen, I didn't know what to think. I had never heard anything like it before. Years later, I can honestly still say the same thing.