Write to me
Questions about Don Ellis, corrections, photographs or recordings to share: I read everything.
Sean P. Fenlon
seanfenlon@yahoo.com
Please note that I have no association whatsoever with the Don Ellis estate, the Ellis family, or the Don Ellis Memorial Library. I am merely a huge fan of Don Ellis and his art and have built this fan site to help continue and grow the awareness of his brilliant contributions.
The Don Ellis Memorial Library
The current contact information for the Don Ellis Memorial Library, as last published, is:
UCLA Ethnomusicology Archive (archived 2006 page)
1630 Schoenberg Hall
Box 951657
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1657
310-825-1695
310-206-4738 FAX
Details may have changed since this was published; see the Memorial Library page.
Printed charts
Comments from the old site (23)
Comments are closed. These were left on the WordPress site between 2014 and 2018 and are kept here as plain text: names, dates and words only. To add something, write to me.
Nice site. I’m a huge fan too and met Don (took photos) when he came to the local college (Cal State Fullerton) in 1972 or 1973. I was in high school then. I kept the (crude – one color) concert poster from that event. I scanned it and have it if anyone is interested.
I’d be happy to add the photos to the site if you email them to me at the email address above. Thanks.
https://www.facebook.com/donellisorchestra
They had a copy of Tears Of Joy in the YMCA pool with a turntable and speakers under water be your own DJ
Don Ellis was on the Ed Sullivan Show there dosent seem to be any video available who has it ?
I am unaware of this video Robert. If you successfully track it down, I’d be happy to add a link to it on the site.
they did this on Ed Sullivan but its not the same performance http://www.stumbleupon.com/...
Hi Sean, Good to find this Don Ellis site. I did not play with the DE band, but have been an avid supporter of his music since the early 1960s. Just after Don’s death I became close friends with his parents, Glenn Stuart and Hank Levy. It was Don’s parents that gave me written permission to access and use all his music in 1983. In England, I directed the Don Ellis Connection (various groups / orchestra dedicated to Don’s music). Don’s biography books and indeed, the recreation of his music became a labor of love. If anyone requires any info about Don, I’m sure I will have it. Best…
Hi Ken. Bravo on all your Don Ellis work. I edited the post and deleted the incorrect passage about you playing with Don Ellis. If there’s anything you’d like to to add to this site, please let me know — I’d be happy to post anything you’d suggest along with a link and proper citation.
Thanks Sean! I now have 4 recordings of my DE Connection on You Tube Watch: VULCAN (full video from concert at Coventry Univ.). Do it Easy, Brass Orchid, Hold On! (audio w pics). These last 3 were not recorded by Don.
Do you have a copy of Black Baby?
Bob, Back in the 1980s when the DE archive was at Eastfield College, Texas, I did a search for Black Baby -Words & trumpet solo accomp.- however could not find any trace of it. I understand that the words were written by Patti Allen and that the trumpet solo by Don were both performed from memory – improvised, hence, no music.
just discovered the don ellis sight and happy to subscribe as a feed with donellismusic.com/fees thanks so much for creating it is there a name that Don Ellis fans call themselves? Donnies? Ellis Heads?
Do you know if the music and words to Black Baby from the Goes Underground album is available anywhere?
I don’t know for sure about this, Bob, but my guess is that Don just improvised that to Patti’s poem. I don’t know if the poem is actually Patti’s or not either. I don’t think there is any attribution on the album. If there isn’t one to the contrary, it would make sense that Patti wrote the words and Don just blew behind her.
Is there a score available anywhere for 33 222 1 222?
I did a search way back for this chart, but could only find a few pages of worn parts that I hoped to have copied and maybe reconstruct score. However, no copies received, so no progress. There just maybe something out there, for I’ve since heard that Don did pass on some earlier material to friends. Must apologise for late reply – I’ve been out of action for some time.
2017 Soaring reissue. Sounds fantastic, nice packaging as well. Far better than the 2008 Universal issue
My brother WIELAND GEORG KEYN has playing 1977/78 with the orchester of DON ELLIS by the music of the film “star-wars”.