Ellery Eskelin, born August 16, 1959 in Wichita, Kansas, is an American tenor saxophonist. Raised by musician parents Rodd Keith and Bobbie Lee, Eskelin began playing the saxophone at age ten, influenced early on by jazz greats such as Gene Ammons and John Coltrane. He started his professional career performing in local jazz clubs. Eskelin moved to New York City in 1983. He has released over 25 albums as a leader since the late 1980s, primarily for the Swiss hatOLOGY label. Notable works include collaborations with Andrea Parkins and Jim Black in the group formed in 1994, and Trio New York featuring Gary Versace and Gerald Cleaver. His unique phrasing and unorthodox compositional techniques have garnered significant critical praise, notably a recognition from Down Beat magazine as "a major player in today's creative music."
