SUGO MUSIC GROUP

Raven

by Dave Ellis

With his debut recording, Dave Ellis hits his stride as a leader. On tenor he sails through dance-happy runs, frolic into bright and buoyant romps, and muses through reflective passages. Equally adept a fluidly carrying a melody into a soulful zone as he is in improvisationally sketching outside the lines of a tune, the 28-year old Ellis unleashes his invigorating brand of jazz that is steeped in tradition yet fueled by a rich amalgam of pop, blues and funk. Ellis displays his versatility as a musician, composer and arranger. He uses various ensembles configurations, ranging from barebones trio to horn heavy septet. The roster of guest feature a who’s who of young jazz luminaries. In addition to serving up two originals, Ellis bridges the gaps between styles and generations by exploring a wide reach of materials, including compositions by McCoy Tyner and Wayne Shorter as well as Ronnie Laws and the Beatles.

Song List: 1. Little Melonae, 2. Always There, 3. Hi Lo, 4. Toy Tune Dave's Samba, 5. Contemplation, 6. The Big Pust, 7. A Rose For Rose, 8. Raven, 9. Tomorrow Never Knows