is a 19-year-old jazz singer, composer, and arranger from Seattle, Washington. Known for their distinctive deep, warm tone, their voice is reminiscent of Carmen McRae and Chet Baker. Ellis’ queer and South African identity shapes how they interpret standards, giving them a unique creative perspective upon which to draw from. Ellis is currently pursuing a B.M. in Jazz Performance at SUNY Purchase, studying with the likes of Adam Birnbaum, Gary Smulyan, and Kate Baker, among others.

Ellis grew up deeply immersed within the jazz tradition; their grandfather was a jazz pianist and educator based in Cape Town, and their father is a saxophonist who comes from the rich lineage of James Moody, and who is an accomplished bandleader, arranger, and composer in his own right. As a kid, Ellis was soaking up the sounds of both the iconic American Songbook interpreters and the post-bop works of musicians such as John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, Michael Brecker, and Rich Perry. First studying classical piano, Ellis fell in love with singing in high school while finding their creative grounding. Inspired by the likes of Betty Carter and Kurt Elling, Ellis pushes the boundaries of what the jazz singer is.