June 2008

John Ellis & Doublewide: Dance Like There's No Tomorrow

Jazz, as an art form, is constantly looking for another prophet, always searching for that next leader who will continue developing the traditions passed down by those who came before and meld them with the new sounds of the current time and place in which they live. The saxophonist John Ellis is such a figure, and this, his new album, is yet more proof. Having spent a number of years backing up eight-string-guitar maestro Charlie Hunter, Ellis is now focused on working and recording with his own group, and has consistently turned out challenging albums that mix the most potent jazz styles with new ideas from the here and now.

On his previous records, Ellis has efficiently brought together elements of Blue Note hard bop, the avant garde, and Headhunters-style funk. He has also blended in the sounds of native New Orleans jazz, and does so again to even greater effect on this album by substituting Matt Perrine�s sousaphone for a regular acoustic or electric bass. When you add in the lively drumming of Jason Marsalis and the spicy keyboard work of Gary Versace, the result is a zestful, vibrant sound that both stimulates the senses and stretches the mind. Without a doubt, Ellis is one of a select few who currently make up the vanguard of jazz, and once again, he has put out a record that cannot be ignored.