JOY ELLIS

Having spent nearly fifteen years learning and playing classical music, it was not surprising to the people that knew Joy Ellis that she would decide upon a career in music. But it was in Jazz, in March 2003, that she began her professional career; singing and playing solo in hotels, restaurants and theatres in Suffolk and Essex and training under the experienced jazz musician Jeffery Wilson.

In September 2004 Joy moved to London where she has been able to work among a wider circle of Jazz musicians, playing and singing in small combo's. She is developing her own musical style and beginning to produce and write her own material.

In 2005 Joy spent 6 weeks in New Orleans learning and experiencing more jazz before returning to London in September where she began studying the piano with renowned jazz performer and educator Nikki Iles.

In the early part of 2007, working with bass player Ben Bastin, they formed two new bands: Tantara, a neo-soul band playing their own original material and The Ellis Quartet which plays a range of relaxing, "feel-good" jazz with a continental twist.

In the early part of 2008 Joy cut down on her performance commitments in order to concentrate on developing her singing - becoming a student at one of Europe's leading conservatoires, the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London. During her time there she was fortunate enough to sing and play with such artists as Pete Churchill, Christine Tobine, Scott Stroman, Martin Speake and her well-loved teacher Nikki Iles. Immediately that was over she travelled to Malaysia, spending two months in Penang as the resident singer at the G Hotel.

Her time in Malaysia acted as a spring-board into more travelling and more music with performances in Denmark, the Netherlands and the USA. In March 2009 she recorded a fresh demo at Lone Wolf Studios, West Viginia as part of a new group called the George Town Trio, featuring ( Adam Osmianski. ) on drums and Jon Cavendish on electric bass. It was a great session and they intend to record there again towards the end of the year. They are also looking to working together from July to October aboard the Princess Coral where they will sail to Vancouver, Alaska, Mexico and Florida.