Music / Jazz
Funk legend Pee Wee Ellis passes away
The American musician and composer Pee Wee Ellis has died, aged 80, at his home in Somerset from heart complications. Though born in Florida the saxophonist relocated to Frome in the mid-90s and had lived around this area with his wife and manager Charlotte ever since. A popular star on the Bristol and Bath jazz scene, it is possible that many who saw him play were not aware that from 1965 to 1969 Pee Wee led the James Brown band, inventing the funk groove and co-writing many of the Godfather’s greatest hits including the civil rights anthem Say It Loud (I’m Black and I’m Proud). He also had two spells leading Van Morrison’s band in the 80s and 90s, including playing on and arranging many albums including Into The Music and Days Like This.
Picture: John Seaman
Throughout these more commercial stints he continued to develop as a jazz musician, however, an enthusiasm stoked by an early encounter with a legend in New York. Queuing in a music shop the 16 year old Pee Wee realised he was standing next to Sonny Rollins, at that time newly recognised as one of America’s top jazz talents. Cheekily the boy asked the maestro if he would give him lessons and amazingly the great man gave him a series of weekly masterclasses. That generosity would be returned years later when a mother in Frome heard Pee Wee practising in a churchyard and – little realising his musical stature – asked if he would teach her beginner son to play. Pee Wee agreed and that boy – Josh Arcoleo – is now one of the top jazz musicians in the country. Bristolian alto sax star James Morton is another protegé of Pee Wee’s who has taken up his funk torch for a fresh generation .
Pee Wee Ellis final performance, with Ian Shaw (Picture: Tony Benjamin)
While regularly touring with his own Pee Wee Ellis Assembly and other projects Pee Wee was always very supportive of the local scene and, as well as giving master classes in schools and at festivals, could be relied upon to support local events. He was a founding patron of the Bristol International Jazz and Blues Festival and appeared on every programme, always with a new and successful project that could be relied upon to pull in the crowds. His last ever performance was, in fact, at this year’s Festival only three weeks before his passing and he was clearly aware on the night that his health was becoming a problem. Nevertheless he played through to the end of the gig and the heartfelt appreciation of the audience for a 65 year career that, in bequeathing us funk, has given so much pleasure to music lovers and dancers around the world.
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