Art Ellefson

Who is Art Ellefson?

Arthur Albert Ellefson is a Canadian jazz saxophonist. He was born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, on the 17th of April, 1932. Having played trumpet and euphonium as a boy, he began playing tenor saxophone at 16, beginning his career in Toronto with Bobby Gimby and others, before going to London in 1952.

He played soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones and clarinet in many British dance bands. They include the Vic Lewis Orchestra from 1953–57, the Ronnie Ross-Allan Ganley Jazzmakers, touring North America with them in 1959, and, from 1960-65 he was with the John Dankworth Orchestra. He also played in touring bands led in England by Woody Herman and Maynard Ferguson.

Ellefson moved in 1969 to Bermuda, and returned to Canada in 1974, where he played tenor saxophone with Nimmons 'N' Nine Plus Six until 1977, appearing occasionally thereafter with his own groups in Toronto. He moved to Courtenay, British Columbia in 1988, taught at Malaspina College in Nanaimo and formed a quartet, called Modus, that included his son Lee, a guitarist.

Jack Batten wrote of Ellefson's style, ‘his sound seems a direct extension of the old masters...