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HotHouse At PAFA - Charles Ellerbe
Oct 11, 2017
HotHouse At PAFA / Celebrating 20 Years On Air For J. Michael Harrison
Saturday, October 28 - 2PM / Featuring Charles Ellerbe & MATRIX 12:38
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts / PAFA
118-128 N Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19102
This year, WRTI-FM radio host, J. Michael Harrison is celebrating 20 years of his radio show, The Bridge, and to mark this important milestone, PAFA is partnering with the Philadelphia Jazz Project to present a special HotHouse concert featuring Charles Ellerbe and MATRIX 12:38, hosted by Harrison. Philadelphia native and guitarist, Charles Ellerbe is considered one of the most powerful guitar improvisers working in music. His approach to guitar is skillful and filled with a wry sense of humor. Ellerbe and his ensemble, MATRIX 12:38 take the stage to offer this rare concert in celebration of J. Michael Harrison’s radio career.
Charles Ellerbe is a Philadelphia-based Guitarist/Composer/Arranger with more than 30 years of professional experience. He has worked with such artists as Jazz organist, Charles Earland, classic Philly disco pioneers, The Trammps, violinist Noel Pointer, the Sun Ra Arkestra and most important, he spent 15 years as a member of Ornette Coleman's band, Prime Time.
PJP spoke with Charles Ellerbe, about his music, his approach and celebrating J. Michael Harrison’s 20 years of radio.
PJP: Can you briefly describe your musical direction?
Charles Ellerbe: My musical direction is an open-minded application of my music education; to explore and discover, to experiment and find. Like the exploration of inner & outer space.
PJP: What and whom are pivotal musical influences on your creative approach?
Charles Ellerbe: People who invested in my music education, along with those who believe in me and support what I do! Some of these people include: Arnold Langley, Nick Finnelli, Norman Harris and Ornette Coleman.
PJP: Tell us about your relationship with J. Michael Harrison?
Charles Ellerbe: I've known J. Michael Harrison for about 25 years now. Our relationship is natural and very real. It's built from the musical interpretations that I create on my instrument and his response to them. There is no other agenda there. I have no commercial cd's out to influence our association. It's just a natural connection through the music.
PJP: What are you going to present at the 20th anniversary of J. Michael Harrison's radio career?
Charles Ellerbe: Well, what MATRIX 12:38 has been working on is a repetoire of compositions that we have been perfecting for a while now. As an ensemble, we have a musical concept that we work on more so than a particular musical direction. We accept that music can provide infinitite possibilities. We'll be sharing some of those concepts in celebration of J. Michael Harrison's radio career.
PJP: How do you manage the task of creating and encouraging fresh, new, forwarding moving musical ideas while simultaneously exploring, celebrating and documenting the past?
Charles Ellerbe: The past and those ideas that emerged from it, were once the present. NOW! those past ideas, which once were the present, become the building blocks for IDEAS now. So, the PAST and NEW IDEAS go hand in hand.
PJP: When listening to your music what advice would you give the audience to assist with greater understanding and enjoyment?
Charles Ellerbe: The music understands YOU. Listen as the music TAILORS its sound to your musical imagination.
PJP: Why Jazz? When you could be doing anything else, Why this music?
Charles Ellerbe: Jazz picked me. I didn't pick it. Jazz, that's what I get called to perform. Of the various approaches to music that I can offer, Jazz.... That's all I get calls for. Nobody calls me for anything else.
Check Out Charles Ellerbe's PhillyCAM TV Performance
HotHouse At PAFA / Celebrating 20 Years On Air For J. Michael Harrison
Saturday, October 28 - 2PM / Featuring Charles Ellerbe & MATRIX 12:38
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts / PAFA
118-128 N Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19102
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HotHouse At PAFA is produced by Philadelphia Jazz Project in collaboration with Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts / PAFA.
Philadelphia Jazz Project is a sponsored project of the Culture Trust | Greater Philadelphia, with funding provided by The Philadelphia Foundation and The Wyncote Foundation.
