Ellen Christi

Ellen Christi has always been an intriguing and adventurous singer who is not afraid to take chances. Her voice is flexible enough to tackle free-form improvisations, art songs, and even occasional standards. Christi first began performing in public in Chicago when she was 16. Having learned piano and flute, she studied composing, technique, and arranging with pianist Jaki Byard. After moving to New York in the mid-'70s, she became part of the who's who of avant-garde jazz. Among the many performers with whom she has collaborated since then are trombonist Ray Anderson, clarinetist Tony Scott, bassists Mark Dresser, Reggie Workman, and William Parker, drummers Andrew Cyrille, Rashied Ali, and Ed Blackwell, singer Lisa Sokolov, trumpeter Kenny Wheeler, conductor Butch Morris, the 22-piece ensemble Illuminati, and her group Aliens' Talk. She has also performed solo vocal concerts and been involved in theatrical productions. Christi was one of the co-founders of the New York City Artists' Collective and regularly teaches master classes in vocal technique and improvisation. Along the way she has recorded for such labels as Soul Note, Network, CMC, Saragasso, and Blissco.