Biography
Don Ellis (1934–1978) was an American composer, jazz trumpeter and bandleader. He studied composition at Boston University and began his professional career playing in orchestras led by Glenn Miller, Ray McKinley and others before forming his own ensembles.
Ellis composed and conducted the scores for several films, including The French Connection (1971), The Seven-Ups (1973) and French Connection II (1975). His work on The French Connection earned a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement. He was known for his use of complex time signatures and experimental approaches in both jazz and film music.
