John Axson Ellis (born April 13, 1974) is an American jazz saxophonist. He performed in the group Doublewide with Jason Marsalis.[1]
A native of North Carolina, Ellis learned clarinet and piano as a child.[2] During the 1990s in New Orleans he studied with Ellis Marsalis and performed with Brian Blade and Nicholas Payton.[3] He released his debut album, Language of Love, independently in 1996.[2] He received a music degree from the New School in New York City and won second place in the 2002 Thelonius Monk Institute of Jazz International Saxophone Competition.[2] He traveled to Africa as a cultural ambassador for the United States Information Agency.[3]
With playwright Andy Bragen Ellis composed the theatrical works Dreamscapes, The Ice Siren, and Mobro.[2][3] An album version of The Ice Siren with Gretchen Parlato on vocals was released in 2020.[2]
Ellis has worked with The Holmes Brothers, Charlie Hunter, John Patitucci, Lonnie Smith, Sting, Helen Sung, and Miguel Zenón.[2]