Ferris, Glenn
Ferris, Glenn
Ferris, Glenn, American trombonist; b. Los Angeles, Calif., June 27, 1950. He discovered the trombone at eight years old, studied classically, and later studied theory and improvisation with Don Ellis (1964–66). He joined Don Ellis’s innovative big band when he was 16, touring and performing until 1970. His warm, mellow sound was inspiring and admired, and he worked around Los Angeles in the 1970s with Frank Zappa, Harry James, Billy Cobham, Bobby Bradford, and also played in a number of classical, pop, rock, and R&B groups. He formed a duo with Milcho Leviev and organized his own 10-piece band, Celebration, in the late 1970s. During the 1980s, he recorded with Tony Scott and toured Europe with Jack Walrath’s quintet. Since settling in Europe in 1980, he’s played and recorded with Steve Lacy, Barry Altschul, Chris McGregor, Louis Sclavis, Franco D’Andrea, Peter Scharli, En-rico Rava, Michel Portal, Joachim Kuhn, Aldo Romano, and Henri Texier.
Discography
That’s Nice (1985); Tomorrow (1992); Flesh & Stone (1994); Face Lift (1995).
—Ted Panken