Ellen Rowe | Jazz Pianist, Composer, Educator Ann Arbor, MI
Jazz Pianist, Composer, Educator Ann Arbor, MI
Ellen Rowe Albums
Momentum - Portraits of Women In Music, 2019
On "Momentum - Portraits of Women In Music" Ellen has put together a program of original music rendered by eight amazing women jazz musicians and written for women—specifically to honor those female trailblazers in various fields that have inspired her, including jazz, politics, social justice, environmental advocacy, and sports. Downbeat Magazine states:
"Rowe has recruited a high-caliber crew here: In addition to Miller, Mayhew, and Jensen, she has Tia Fuller on alto saxophone, Lisa Parrott on baritone, and the astonishing Melissa Gardner on trombone. As for the listener, the experience is certainly life-enhancing. Between the writing and the playing, tracks like the deeply swinging “The Soul Keepers” (a tribute to Geri Allen by way of Mary Lou Williams) and “Ain’t I A Woman” (a civil-rights tribute that’s equal parts gospel and hard-bop) are as good as mainstream jazz gets these days." J.D. Considine, Downbeat Magazine "Editor's Pick" review
Ellen Rowe, piano
Ingrid Jensen, trumpet
Tia Fuller, alto saxophone
Virginia Mayhew, tenor saxophone
Lisa Parrott, baritone saxophone
Melissa Gardiner, trombone
Marion Hayden, bass
Allison Miller, drums
Janelle Reichman, clarinet
Courage Music, 2014
A personal triumph for a gifted pianist, composer and arranger at a new peak of creativity, Ellen Rowe's Courage Music (February 23rd, PKO Records) is also renewed confirmation that inspired and vital jazz continues to spring from artistic outposts beyond those of a select handful of America's major cities. The fourth of Rowe's acclaimed recordings as a leader, Courage Music spotlights the dexterity of Rowe's longtime ensemble - augmented here by the trumpeter and flugelhornist Ingrid Jensen - as well as Rowe's skills as an adroit composer and arranger. Also featuring The University of Michigan Chamber Jazz Ensemble.
Ellen Rowe, piano
Pete Siers, drums
Kurt Krahnke, bass
Andrew Bishop, saxophone
Ingrid Jensen, trumpet
Wishing Well, 2010
Wishing Well showcases Ellen's intelligent and thoughtful compositions which are filled with moving, and often poignant emotional content. Ellen's brilliant piano improvisations play an important role throughout this excellent recording but her strengths as an composer, organizer, writer and band leader shine just as brightly. Every tune on Wishing Well stands out as a lovely, interesting and substantive sound poem; however, it's the accompanying stories of inspiration that give each piece it's deeper meaning. Ellen's personally written liner notes for the CD are a joy to read. She waxes eloquently (and sometimes philosophically) about the creation of the individual pieces and about the musicians who helped bring this fascinating music to life. Ellen's CD liner notes are an extra added bonus that enhance one's pleasure and understanding of this incredible program of original music.
Ellen Rowe, piano
Pete Siers, drums
Kurt Krahnke, bass
Andrew Bishop, soprano and tenor saxophones
Ingrid Jensen, flugelhorn
Andy Haefner, tenor sax
Denali Pass, 2005
In the summer of 2004 I was incredibly fortunate to be part of a successful expedition to the summit of Mt. McKinley, or Denali, as it is known to native Alaskans and the climbing community at large. As I write these notes I am still processing the experience. I know that much of what occurred on the mountain has a direct correlation with music-making: the team is everything and the whole is more than the sum of the individual parts. This is never more evident than in a small jazz group, where the members interact to produce a musical whole that is so much greater than what they could have imagined possible when they played the fi rst notes. I am constantly in awe ofthe forces that allow this serendipity to occur and am always grateful for the opportunities I have to be a part of this kind of experience, whether it be on the side of a mountain or sitting behind a piano... Read full liner notes
Ellen Rowe, piano
Pete Siers, drums
Kurt Krahnke, bass
Andrew Bishop, saxophone
Sunny Wilkinson, vocals
Sylvan Way, 2001
"Ellen Rowe has produced an excellent recording, SYLVAN WAY, that showcases her immense talents as a composer and pianist. Ellen's original creations possess lyricism and harmonic surprises that take no back seat next to the standard material presented. The program is nicely balanced with swinging tunes, Latin flavors and caresses the listener with lush romantic moods. Ellen assembles three excellent rhythm sections with one horn to accompany her. Stellar bassist, John Clayton, is featured with his bow on Rowe's hauntingly beautiful ballad, HYMN. This CD definitely invites repeated listening. Enjoy, SYLVAN WAY, as I have. BRAVO Ms. Rowe!" - Rufus Reid, Bassist
Ellen Rowe, piano
Pete Siers, drums
Kurt Krahnke, bass
Andrew Bishop, saxophone
Dan Kolton, Tom Brown, John Clayton, bass
Joe LaBarbera, drums
Other Recordings
Ellen can also be heard on the following recordings
Day Dream
Andrei Ryabov Quartet, Signature Sounds Records
Mood Swings
Kathy Kosins, Chiaroscuro Records
Following Footsteps
Jeff Jarvis, Amherst Records
Bingo
Bird of Paradise Orchestra, PKO Records
Timescape
Ed Sarath, Art Education Synthesis Records
Paris Blues
Bird of Paradise Orchestra, PKO Records
The Carl Michael Group
Carl Michael, Play On Records
In 2002 Ellen recorded David Gillingham’s “Double Star,” a concerto for clarinet, piano and wind ensemble with the University of Miami Wind Ensemble, conducted by Gary Green.