Don Ellis | |
|---|---|
 Ellis in a 1968 DownBeat advertisement | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Donald Johnson Ellis |
| Born | July 25, 1934 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Died | December 17, 1978 (aged 44) Hollywood, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz, big band, avant-garde, jazz fusion |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer, arranger |
| Instrument(s) | Trumpet, drums |
| Years active | 1956–1978 |
| Labels | CBS, Candid, Atlantic, Pacific Jazz, MPS |
Donald Johnson Ellis (July 25, 1934 – December 17, 1978) was an American jazz trumpeter, drummer, composer, and bandleader. He is best known for his extensive musical experimentation, particularly in the area of time signatures. Later in his life he worked as a film composer, contributing a score to 1971's The French Connection and 1973's The Seven-Ups.