Meet Ellis Green of Phoenix

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ellis Green.

Hi Ellis, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I first got into performing music in high school by picking up the bass guitar, and became curious about jazz as I got deeper into learning music. That was around the time I started college. Since then I’ve split my time pretty evenly between upright bass and piano.

After graduating from ASU in the spring of 2021, around the time the pandemic started dying down, I started getting gigs, usually at restaurants and private events but also from booking agents. As I found out, booking for events happens mostly online, through sites like Gigsalad, so I figured I might as well try to get in on that as well. I made a website, listed my profile on a bunch of those sites, and since then I’ve worked growing that online presence.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Any sort of freelancing job comes with the frustration of inconsistency. Sometimes, you’ve just waiting on the phone to ring, so to speak. There’s also the opportunity cost of taking work, especially on weekends, since if something better comes along later for that same night you’re out of luck.

In spite of all that, playing gigs is still my favorite thing to do, and there’s really nothing else I’d like to do more.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I play in different groups around the valley for restaurants, parties, weddings, dance classes- even a few funerals. Each comes with its own benefits and challenges, which keeps things interesting. Since 2023 I’ve been playing with a trio every Monday at Caffe Boa on Mill. In the first group I had playing there, I was on the bass, but since then I’ve moved over to the keyboard, and having a weekly gig has really helped me advance my piano playing. I’ve also been playing quite a bit of solo piano lately as well.

Many times I’ve played weddings with a jazz band for the reception or the cocktail hour. I’ve recently for the first time played for the ceremony as well, which is usually solo piano, and usually comes with pop or classical song requests (i.e. Clair de Lune). That’s a departure from my typical repertoire, which is a fun challenge.

I also have three albums of jazz trio music- from 2019, 2022, and 2023- which are all up on my website if interested.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
In order to be a valuable musician to hire, especially in jazz, it’s important to have a strong breadth of knowledge in the standard repertoire. Listening is necessary for that, but one strategy in particular I’d recommend as well is that, on a gig, whenever a song comes up that you don’t know, make it a goal to learn it. That way, your tune knowledge accumulates over time.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ellisgreenmusic.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/ellisgreenmusic
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@ellisgreenmusic