 |
| "We are thankful that guitarist Ehlis is uninterested in the beat-to-death bop style playing, preferring instead to veer toward the extremes of simple folklike themes such as "Scene One" or wacko improvisation like "Hand Signals." He is superbly supported by fellow axman Lofton and the underrated Tchicai, all of whom together form an odd ensemble very reminiscent of Henry Threadgill's. While Ehlis whips through the final, crisp notes of "Hands Signals," Lofton backs him with Frisell-like rapes of woozy chords. It's a great outing for the always-fine Tchicai and a wonderful calling card for the guitarist who, we can hope, will worm his way further into the Jazz scene." Dave McElfresh Jazz Now |
| "For his debut session as a leader, guitar player John Ehlis takes a background role. Certainly the primary individual voice in this ensemble's debut is Danish reed-player John Tchicai who confirms that he is one of the tradition's contemporary masters with his sublime interpretation of the opening ballad "Scene One." As the lyrics of his original "Meeting on the Dot" stress: "I'll take my time...inside or outside...and right on the dot too." Tchicai modulates with ease from mainstream ballad stylings into free terrain ranging from multiphonic wailing in "Hand Signals" to abrasive vibrato in the dirge-like "Anfora." In contrast, Ehlis assumes a very limited solo role. The primary guitar soloist is David Lofton who's featured in an intimate duo with Tchicai entitled "Day into Night" ending a sequence of four wonderful performances at the heart of this CD. Tchicai's ebullient soprano saxophone is joined by Markus Hawkins's violin for stunning interpretations of Don Cherry's jaunty"Bird Boy" and ballad "Malinyea." The spacey yet intense rapport of the ensemble is exemplary as in their interplay during Ehlis's "Yes, I Know" where the rhythmic core of Wyman, Brooks and Jones's arco blends perfectly with Tchicai and Hawkins. If the terje Rypdal-style fuzz guitar solo that begin "Meeting on the Dot" is the only solo feature by John Ehlis on his debut recording as a leader, then we can be grateful that elsewhere he display the good taste, sense and grace to feature John Tchicai as his ensemble's primary solo voice. Recommended" David Lewis Cadence |
|
Guitarist John Ehlis is inspired by traditional music from around the world including Cuba, the Basque region of Spain, South Africa, Mali and India. He rechannels the influences of these musically vast cultures into a unique sound that incorporates chanting, lyrical melodies, ambient sounds and collective improvisations. He also includes the sounds of mandolin, bamboo flutes, mbira and hand percussion into his performances. Ehlis studied music under the direction of Grant Wolf at Mesa Community College and completed his formal music education at UC Riverside in 1989. He has performed in cities throughout the United States for the past 20 years with musicians that include John Tchicai, Francis Wong, Beth Custer, Tony Passarell, Rent Romus, Joe Craven, Tony White, Gabriel Ariel Levicky (Slovakian poet) and Euskai Giroa (a Basque folk choir.) He has also led the improvisational ensembles "Beautiful Cuba," "Francis the First," and most recently, the John Ehlis ensemble. The ensemble's first CD was released in Fall 1996, and features veteran saxophonist John Tchicai. John Ehlis currently resides in New York City. |
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||