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New Orleans saxophonist John Ellis is firmly in the post-Bop mode. He’s a lyrical player with a tone that is light substantive. And don’t let the fact that he’s from New Orleans and the presence of a Marsalis and Nicholas Payton in the lineup fool you. This is not music yoked in the neo-Bop tradition. Ellis is reaching for something a little different here. Some tracks feature vocals by neo-soul singer Bilal Oliver but they are not neo-soul in style. (Incidentally, Oliver’s appearances are brief.) They are all based on older folk songs. “John Brown’s Body” takes the song and opens it up as a vehicle for lengthy improvisations chilling rhythms. “The Lonely Jesus” interweaves an old recording of the song and towards the end has Oliver duetting with it. “Who?,” an original, finds Nicholas Payton guesting. The theme has the zig-zagging quality of an Ornette Coleman theme although, when soloing begins, it reverts to a more traditional structure. Ellis’ arrangement of “Confirmation” is quite intriguing. It starts as a duet between Ellis and pianist Goldberg. The rhythm section enters and then they re-state the theme, this time over a 7/4 structure. It’s a very odd approach but, surprisingly, it works. Solos are performed alternating over the 7/4 rhythm and a straight swing beat. Goldberg, in particular, seems to have fun with this. Finally, closing out the album is a lovely “solo” version of “For All We Know.” One can hear the influence of Coltrane in Ellis’ tone on this one. (His soloing style is very different however.) Also on this track, Ellis has overdubbed what sounds like about a six piece reed section (with bass clarinet, clarinet, flute, etc.) over his solo tenor. I assume these are the “winds” he’s credited along with playing the tenor. It’s well done. There’s also a brief (uncredited) reprise of “John Brown’s Gun” complete with a field recording of the piece.
All in all, an interesting debut for this player. I have to say, it was one of those records that grew on me with repeated listenings. I look forward to hearing more.
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