Appearing at Jazz in Media at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 145 W. Rose Tree Road in Media, PA, on December 21st, 2011 will be guitarist Charles Ellerbe and Matrix 12:38 featuring drummer Anthony Matthews, percussionist Tony Cosby, bassist Josh Machiz, and trumpeter Michael Ray. One Show: 7:30-9 p.m. $10/$5 students. No advance sales. For info: 610-745-3011 Free refreshments and free on-site parking.
Third Wednesdays each month at the Jazz in Media! series continue through May. For a complete lineup, please visit Jazz Bridge.
About Charles Ellerbe
Guitarist Charles Ellerbe was in Ornette Coleman's Prime Time band for 14 years (1975-1989) and appeared on such classic albums as Dancing In Your Head, Body Meta, and In All Languages. The Prime Time band, which combined ethnic sounds and danceable rhythms with Coleman's Harmolodic approach, was a seminal ensemble of the 1970s and 1980s. In addition to being a member of Ornette's band, Ellerbe has also performed with the Sun Ra Arkestra, Charles Earland, The Trammps, Catalyst, Noel Pointer, and Japanese opera singer Mari Okubo. A lifelong resident of Philadelphia, Charles first became interested in the guitar at the age of 15 after being blown away hearing the theme song to the Beverly Hillbillies television show. A few years later, Ellerbe was playing with the soul group the Ambassadors when he met guitarist Norman Harris at the Uptown Theater. Harris, the guitarist in MFSB, the legendary studio band at Philadelphia International Records, became Ellerbe's teacher. While working at the Uptown, Charles discovered that what interested him most was arranging and composing, and after some arranging lessons with Richard Rome and Tommy Bell of Philadelphia International Records, Charles enrolled in Combs College to study composition and arranging formally. Within a year, Ellerbe was called to New York to audition for Ornette and got the job immediately. Within a matter of weeks, he was off to France with Prime Time, the beginning of nearly 15 years of further musical education under Ornette Coleman.
Third Wednesdays each month at the Jazz in Media! series continue through May. For a complete lineup, please visit Jazz Bridge.
About Charles Ellerbe
Guitarist Charles Ellerbe was in Ornette Coleman's Prime Time band for 14 years (1975-1989) and appeared on such classic albums as Dancing In Your Head, Body Meta, and In All Languages. The Prime Time band, which combined ethnic sounds and danceable rhythms with Coleman's Harmolodic approach, was a seminal ensemble of the 1970s and 1980s. In addition to being a member of Ornette's band, Ellerbe has also performed with the Sun Ra Arkestra, Charles Earland, The Trammps, Catalyst, Noel Pointer, and Japanese opera singer Mari Okubo. A lifelong resident of Philadelphia, Charles first became interested in the guitar at the age of 15 after being blown away hearing the theme song to the Beverly Hillbillies television show. A few years later, Ellerbe was playing with the soul group the Ambassadors when he met guitarist Norman Harris at the Uptown Theater. Harris, the guitarist in MFSB, the legendary studio band at Philadelphia International Records, became Ellerbe's teacher. While working at the Uptown, Charles discovered that what interested him most was arranging and composing, and after some arranging lessons with Richard Rome and Tommy Bell of Philadelphia International Records, Charles enrolled in Combs College to study composition and arranging formally. Within a year, Ellerbe was called to New York to audition for Ornette and got the job immediately. Within a matter of weeks, he was off to France with Prime Time, the beginning of nearly 15 years of further musical education under Ornette Coleman.
