John Ellis

John Axson Ellis (born April 13, 1974) is an American jazz saxophonist. He performed in the group Doublewide with Jason Marsalis.

Career

A native of North Carolina, Ellis learned clarinet and piano as a child. During the 1990s in New Orleans he studied with Ellis Marsalis and performed with Brian Blade and Nicholas Payton. He released his debut album, Language of Love, independently in 1996. He received a music degree from the New School in New York City and won second place in the 2002 Thelonius Monk Institute of Jazz International Saxophone Competition. He traveled to Africa as a cultural ambassador for the United States Information Agency.

With playwright Andy Bragen Ellis composed the theatrical works Dreamscapes, The Ice Siren, and Mobro. An album version of The Ice Siren with Gretchen Parlato on vocals was released in 2020.

Ellis has worked with The Holmes Brothers, Charlie Hunter, John Patitucci, Lonnie Smith, Sting, Helen Sung, and Miguel Zenón

Discography

As leader/co-leader

• Roots, Branches & Leaves (Fresh Sound, 2002) – recorded in 2000
• 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) – recorded in 2011
• MOBRO with Andy Bragen (Parade Light, 2014)
• Double Wide Charm (Parade Light, 2015)
• The Ice Siren with Andy Bragen (Parade Light, 2020)

As sideman