Biography
Donald Johnson Ellis (July 25, 1934 – December 17, 1978) was an American jazz trumpeter, drummer, composer, and bandleader. He is best known for his extensive musical experimentation, particularly in the area of time signatures. Later in his life he worked as a film composer, contributing a score to 1971's The French Connection and 1973's The Seven-Ups.
Bio from Wikipedia
Discography
Records they worked on — most-collected first.
Mingus Ah Um
1959
Absolutely Free
1967
AWB
1974
Put Your Handz Up
1993
Rosemary's Baby (Music From The Motion Picture Score)
1968
Electric Bath
1968
Portrait Of Sheila
1963
Ezz-thetics
1961
Connection
1972
Better Git It In Your Soul
1971
Don Ellis At Fillmore
1970
Autumn
1968
Shock Treatment
1968
The Soul Of Jazz Percussion
1960
Mingus Dynasty
1960
The Mood Mosaic 18 (The Shape Of Things)
2021
Nostalgia In Times Square / The Immortal 1959 Sessions
1979
Music From Other Galaxies And Planets
1977
Outer Thoughts
1975
Apprentice (In A Musical Workshop)
1974
Movie Hits!
1972
Let Go
1969
Rock Machine - I Love You
1968
The French Connection (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
2001
Credited work
772 releases · 108 albums · active 1959–2025
- Performance · 1,860
- Other credits · 206
- Production · 80
- Engineering · 2
Studios: Plaza Sound Studios · Nola Recording Studios · Goldwyn Studio · Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey
Frequent collaborators
- Various
- Charles Mingus
- Steppenwolf
- Maynard Ferguson
- George Russell Sextet
- The Don Ellis Orchestra
- George Russell
- Don Ellis Orchestra