| Jazz |
When an album succeeds, it takes only three notes to win over its listener. In this case, it’s the poetic beauty of the lyrics, a voice both original and masterfully honed, musicians perfectly attuned to the project, and sophisticated arrangements—all elements that command admiration. Ellie Martin delivers a work of such caliber that she makes us forget her exceptional vocal technique through the sheer honesty of her artistry.
Among the highlights of her career are performances at the Pittsburgh Jazz Festival, the Sunset Jazz Festival, and the Michigan Jazz Festival. She has also appeared as a guest soloist with the National Arab Orchestra in San Antonio, Texas, and shared the stage with jazz luminaries such as Geri Allen, Terri Lyne Carrington, Esperanza Spalding, the New York Voices, Jon Hendricks, and Afro Blue. Her debut solo album, Verdant, was released in May 2023. Entirely composed of original pieces, the album is a meditation on her journey as a woman, a mother, and a cancer survivor. It features Grammy-nominated pianist and vocalist Peter Eldridge, Israeli guitarist Ariel Kasler, bassist Kurt Khranke, and Costa Rican multi-percussionist Olman Piedra.
It’s always in the details that the soul of an album reveals itself. Consider, for instance, the choice of an acoustic trio as accompaniment; this minimalist setting brings to the fore the vulnerability of her voice, which is precisely what gives it its beauty. There is a deliberate refusal to resort to technical gimmickry that could have undercut the sincerity of the project. And then there’s that deep, abiding passion for jazz that has carried her since childhood. In 2008, she earned a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance from McGill University in Montreal, Canada, where she studied under Ranee Lee and performed at the Upstairs Jazz Club. In 2010, she completed a master’s in jazz vocal performance at the University of Toledo. During her time at UT, Ellie worked closely with the legendary lyricist, vocalist, and jazz professor Jon Hendricks, dedicating her thesis to his youth and the formation of the group Lambert, Hendricks & Ross. She also studied and performed regularly with Detroit jazz pianist Claude Black and bassist Clifford Murphy at Murphy’s jazz club.
Her work with Jon Hendricks has clearly left a profound imprint. Listening to Morning Glories, one can’t help but think of Manhattan Transfer—at times her voice becomes almost instrumental, soaring with the same vocal agility and daring. Even the arrangements carry echoes of Hendricks’ influence, a reminder that he helped push Manhattan Transfer to international stardom.
Morning Glories is an album that delves into themes of family and nature. I’m almost grateful not to have discovered Ellie Martin’s work sooner; doing so now allows me to savor, in full, the artistic richness she offers. For years, countless women in jazz have released outstanding albums, but what sets a truly great artist apart is that moment when vocal technique vanishes behind pure expression. In that sense, Ellie Martin stands among the finest. The United States is vast, and I regret not being able to attend one of her concerts, which are surely every bit as spellbinding as this album.
One track on the album is in French; sung almost without an accent; giving her voice an operatic luster. Pays de Désir is one of the standout records of 2025, and it also opens our May album reviews, at a time when an overwhelming number of new releases are already flooding in.
Thierry De Clemensat
USA correspondent for Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor in chief – Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
Editor for All About Jazz
PARIS-MOVE, April 10th 2025
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Musicians:
Ellie Martin: voice & vocal bacgrounds
Peter Eldridge: piano & vocal backgrounds
Kurt Krahnke: bass
Olman Piedra: drums & percussions
Titles:
Love and Light
Spring’s Around The Corner
Little Flowers in Bloom
Shattered Shados
Asking us to Change
Morning Glories
Pays de Désir (intro)
Pays de Désir
Ungraveling
Woman In The Frame
Lonly In The Crowd
Dancer in the Dark
Everything Come Down