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Pee Wee Ellis
Pee Wee Ellis - saxophone A versatile composer, arranger, saxophonist and keyboard player, a musician whose repertoire encompasses all manner of music from jazz through soul and funk to stadium rock, Alfred Pee Wee Ellis stands distinctive in any company. Born in Bradenton, Florida in 1941, Pee Wee was raised in Lubbock, Texas where he played his first public show in 1954 while still in Junior High School. His family moved to Rochester, NY, the following year, where he continued to play professionally throughout High School. He also met Sonny Rollins at this time, and spent the summer of 1957 under his masterful tutelage - a pivotal experience. “A great sax player, he taught me a lot and I still listen to him". Returning to Florida after graduation he formed his own ensemble, Dynamics Incorporated. He also worked on the carny circuit at this time, laying the foundation of his career as a bandleader and musical director, writer and arranger, and by now multi-instrumentalist, with tenor saxophone as his principal musical voice. It was during this period that he first came to the notice of James Brown. Back in New York, Pee Wee was working with The Sonny Payne Trio in 1965 when he got ‘the call’ from his close friend Wayman Reed to join the James Brown Revue, then the hottest, most sensational and successful head-buster on the R&B circuit, and fast becoming an international phenomenon. “I stood there in the wings and I thought, I should have bought a ticket. It was that much of a privilege to be so close to James Brown and that band” says Pee Wee now of his first exposure to the revue. Playing alto sax and organ Pee Wee quickly became an integral element in James’ expanding vision, writing arrangements and horn charts, and he was instantly promoted to bandleader when Nat Jones quit in January 1967. That very same day Pee Wee arranged Brown’s R&B Top 5 Hit, “Let Yourself Go” (from which, 'There Was A Time' was born), and then turned the soul world on its head with Brown’s follow-up, “Cold Sweat.” This was a million selling Number 1 Hit in the autumn of 1967 and it redefined the parameters of popular music. Brown had been out on a musical limb since 1964, with unconventional hits such as “I Got You (I feel Good)” and “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag,” but Nat Jones’ arrangements had not taken him over the edge.
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Pee Wee Ellis
by Peter Madsen
I was half-asleep in my bunk on a Fred Wesley tour bus a few years ago heading for the next where-the-hell-are-we European city when the sound of an amazing saxophonist literally pulled my eyes wide open. It sounded like an old bootleg recording of Sonny Rollins playing standards that I was unaware of, full of rhythmic and harmonic twists and turns. The sound was deep and rich and ever changing colors. I popped my head out of my bunk curtains ...
read morePee Wee Ellis: New Album, Listening Party, Tour Dates
Source:
JamBase
AOL MUSIC HOSTING FULL ALBUM LISTENING PARTY OF TENORATION; ALBUM IN STORES TOMORROW ON MIG MUSIC Tomorrow sees the release of the latest effort from Jazz Legend Pee Wee Ellis via MIG MUSIC. Tenoration features 2 discs of Pee Wee at his finest. The first CD is entitled Into the Funk" showcasing a bit more of Pee Wee's funk side. The second disc is entitled Back to Jazz" and showcases the traditional jazz style that Pee Wee is known for. ...
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Saxophonist Pee Wee Ellis at Iridium
Source:
Michael Ricci
The saxophonist Pee Wee Ellis played just one original in his first set at Iridium on Thursday night, and it delivered the only dose of nonswinging groove. That ratio felt emphatic, like a statement of principle. Mr. Ellis, leading a cohort credibly billed as his all-star band -- with Mulgrew Miller on piano, Ron Carter on bass and Jimmy Cobb on drums -- was signing on to a mainstream jazz program, accepting the terms and conditions. He seemed intent on ...
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Omar Sosa & Pee Wee Ellis US Tour
Source:
All About Jazz
The next Omar Sosa Quartet tour in the United States will feature R&B saxophone great Pee Wee Ellis (of James Brown and Van Morrison fame), together with drum & bass pioneer Marque Gilmore, and bassist Childo Tomas from Mozambique, scheduled for April 18 to May 7, 2006. This ensemble recently completed a highly successful run at Blue Note Tokyo in Japan, so we are pleased to announce this tour period offering in the U.S. and Canada.
For information on presenting ...
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