Musician Profile
Bookings
Date | Group | Instrument | Info |
---|---|---|---|
3rd November 2024 | Swish Jazz Band | Clarinet | N/A |
15th December 2024 | The Pete Rudeforth Jazz Band | Drums | N/A |
Band Info
John Ellmer – Drums and reeds. I started playing drums at an early age, starting with a toy kit, then a small made up kit, then my real kit at about 7. I would go to the local club with my dad and watch him play bass with the band. I started to copy the rhythms of the drummer, and dad soon put me to lessons. At about 10 years old, my dad's band won a local competition with me on drums. We bought a clarinet, and went to lessons, then later sat in with a big band with my teacher. At 15, I changed teachers, who was in the Lifeguards, and played several instruments. I later took up Alto, and was still gigging with my dad in dance and jazz bands, but mainly on drums. At 19, my teacher took over an 8-piece function band, and the drum chair was available. so, I took the job. This involved a lot of reading. This got me more into arranging. Later took up, Soprano sax, then vibraphone. Added percussion, Tenor sax, More percussion, Bass Clarinet, then Baritone sax. I also played for a wind band for 38 years, where I played all my instruments at some point, wrote some arrangements, and conducted when the conductor was on holiday. Today, I'm playing mostly jazz, but do get to play other styles. In 2017, I made a c d, where I wrote some arrangements, played all my instruments at some point, small, medium, and big band. Some favourite tunes, but different versions, and some originals.