Gene Ess is a Japanese-American jazz guitarist. He was a member of the Rashied Ali Quintet, working with Ravi Coltrane,

Archie Shepp Archie Shepp (born May 24, 1937) is an American jazz saxophonist, educator and playwright who since the 1960s has played a central part in the development of avant-garde jazz. Biography Early life Shepp was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, but ...

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, and

Reggie Workman Reginald "Reggie" Workman (born June 26, 1937 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American avant-garde jazz and hard bop double bassist, recognized for his work with both John Coltrane and Art Blakey. Career Early in his career, Workman wo ...

Career

Ess was born Gene Shimosato in

Tokyo Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and List of cities in Japan, largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, ...

, Japan, and raised in

Okinawa is a prefecture of Japan. Okinawa Prefecture is the southernmost and westernmost prefecture of Japan, has a population of 1,457,162 (as of 2 February 2020) and a geographic area of 2,281 km2 (880 sq mi). Naha is the capital and largest city ...

on an American military base. In his early teens, he was a performing musician in Okinawa. He studied classical music at George Mason University, then attended Berklee College of Music, where he became interested in jazz, particularly the music of

John Coltrane John William Coltrane (September 23, 1926 – July 17, 1967) was an American jazz saxophonist, bandleader and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th-century music. Born and raise ...

. Ess moved to

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...

and became a member of a band led by

Rashied Ali Rashied Ali, born Robert Patterson (July 1, 1933 – August 12, 2009) was an American free jazz and avant-garde drummer best known for playing with John Coltrane in the last years of Coltrane's life. Biography Early life Patterson was born and ...

. He toured with Ali and recorded on his album ''No One in Particular''. While in this group, he played with Ravi Coltrane, Eddie Henderson, Carlos Santana, Archie Shepp, and Reggie Workman Ess's album ''Modes of Limited Transcendence'' (2009) received the 2010 SESAC Outstanding Jazz Performance Award. The album includes compositions by Ess and pianist

Tigran Hamasyan Tigran Hamasyan ( hy, Տիգրան Համասյան; born July 17, 1987) is an Armenian jazz pianist and composer. He plays mostly original compositions, which are strongly influenced by the Armenian folk tradition, often using its scales and mod ...

. In 2012, he released ''A Thousand Summers'', which contains vocals by Nicki Parrott. Following this, Ess released ''Fractal Attraction'' (2013), which continues his exploration of voice in a chamber group setting. The album was recorded with

Thana Alexa Thana Alexa (born Thana Alexa Pavelić; born March 19, 1987) is an American jazz vocalist, composer, arranger and producer. Biography Early life Alexa's interest in music began at age three when she disappeared from a birthday party and was dis ...

on vocals, David Berkman on piano, Thomas Kneeland on drums, and Gene Jackson on drums. Ess has also worked with

Al Foster Aloysius Tyrone Foster (born January 18, 1943) is an American jazz drummer. Foster's professional career began in the mid-60s, when he played and recorded with hard bop and swing musicians including Blue Mitchell and Illinois Jacquet. Foster ...

, Slide Hampton,

Dave Liebman David Liebman (born September 4, 1946) is an American saxophonist, flautist and jazz educator. He is known for his innovative lines and use of atonality. He was a frequent collaborator with pianist Richie Beirach. In June 2010, he received ...

, and Clark Terry.

Discography

As leader

* ''Sunrise Falling'' (Amp, 2003) * ''Sandbox and Sanctum'' (Simp, 2005) * ''Modes of Limited Transcendence'' (Simp, 2008) * ''A Thousand Summers'' (Simp, 2012) * ''Fractal Attraction'' (Simp, 2013) * ''Eternal Monomyth'' (Simp, 2015) * ''Absurdist Theater'' (Simp, 2016) * ''Apotheosis'' (Simp, 2018) * ''Ah-Bop'' (Simp, 2022)

As sideman

* One World Tribe, ''Prayer for September'' (Paddle Wheel, 1995) * Rashied Ali Quintet, ''No One in Particular'' (Survival, 2001)

References

External links

Official site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ess, Gene Year of birth missing (living people) Living people American musicians of Japanese descent American jazz guitarists