Don Ellis played trumpet in big bands and orchestras before leading his own bands and recording his own compositions. He experimented with odd time signatures and unusual instrumentations, and his Eastern-influenced jazz gained popularity during the psychedelic 1960s. Ellis also invented a four-valve trumpet and developed a slide/valve trombone called a "superbone." Ellis won a Grammy for his soundtrack to The French Connection. Biography Overview Donald Johnson Ellis 1934-1978, the Man... ...show more

Don Ellis played trumpet in big bands and orchestras before leading his own bands and recording his own compositions. He experimented with odd time signatures and unusual instrumentations, and his Eastern-influenced jazz gained popularity during the psychedelic 1960s. Ellis also invented a four-valve trumpet and developed a slide/valve trombone called a "superbone." Ellis won a Grammy for his soundtrack to The French Connection. Biography Overview Donald Johnson Ellis 1934-1978, the Man...

his Times and most importantly his Music is explored in the Feature Length Documentary Film, ELECTRIC HEART -don ellis. (status: Post Production) The Story of the one of the most innovative Composer, Arranger, Writer and Musicians' of all time, Ellis was the first to create a fusion between Jazz-Rock & Classical music. Pultizer winning Composer Gunther Schuller appears explaining Ellis as the inspiration for his phrase "The Third Stream". Ellis took the genre to greater heights and not even the top 10 in New York City today can play his music.

Debuting his Orchestra in 1966 at The Monterey Jazz Festival, his "New Horizons" Band gave a performance that still stands as the greatest in the history of the oldest Jazz Festival. Restored footage with interviews from the band's members rounds out this segment. Maynard Ferguson, Jazz Legend explains Ellis as a Composer was never satisfied with a certain sound and one that was content with "Experimentation before Entertainment." Born in Los Angeles and raised in Minneapolis, the son of a Minister and Pianist Mother, Ellis became known for his odd metered arrangements during his College years at The University of Boston. Schuller (New England Conservatory President at the time) introduced Ellis to Leornard Bernstein and a National Television audience viewed Ellis for the first time for The Young People's Concert in 1960. ...show less