Ellison, William

Bassist and double-bassist who attended Juilliard and has worked with the American Symphony Orchestra, the Concordia Orchestra, the New York City Ballet, the New York Pops, the Roundabout Theatre Company, and the ST-X Ensemble.

On 28^th March 1989, he helped accompany pianist and singer-songwriter Jerry Herman and vocalists Karen Morrow and Lee Roy Reams at Rainbow and Stars in the RCA Building. On tap were Herman favourites such as “Bosom Buddies”, “Hello, Dolly!” and “I Don’t Want to Know”.

The New York Pops appeared at Hill Auditorium in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on 2^nd March 1993 for an evening of Americana that included highlights from Candide and On the Town by Leonard Bernstein, Guys and Dolls by Frank Loesser, and movie music by Burt Bacharach, Henry Mancini, David Raksin, and Max Steiner.

In November 2007, William was the bassist du jour in a production of “Why Lee? A Musical Scrapbook About Lee Wiley” at the Metropolitan Room.

He performed similar duties for a cabaret act by Jason Danieley & Marin Mazzie at Feinstein’s in Lowe’s Regency on 24^th March 2009. The better part of the program was occupied by songs from the duo’s CD, Opposite You. Diners were treated to “Come Rain or Come Shine” by Harold Arlen & Johnny Mercer, “Let’s Do It” by Cole Porter, and “Ring Them Bells” by John Kander & Fred Ebb.

In February 2011, he took part in a program entitled “On a Clear Day: The Musical Vision of Burton Lane” at the 92^nd Street Y. It featured David Loud’s arrangements of “Everything I Have is Yours”, “How Are Things in Glocca Mora?”, “Look to the Rainbow”, “Melinda”, “Too Late Now”, and “What Did I Have That I Don’t’ Have.

He played bass in a production of “Stage Door Canteen: Broadway Responds to World War II” at the Y on 14^th March 2011.

On 5^th December 2011, he and percussionist John Redsecker and flautist Sweet Sue Terry accompanied Shirley Ritenour at Merkin Concert Hall in an Eileen Farrell tribute concert. The program included “Dich, Teure Halle” from Tannhauser by Richard Wagner, “Let My Song Fill Your Heart” by Ernest Charles, and “Old Devil Moon” by Burton Lane and E.Y. “Yip” Harburg.

The American Symphony Orchestra gave a concert on 24^th February 2012 that comprised The Rite of Spring by Igor Stravinsky, “La valse” by Maurice Ravel, and “Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 63” by Sergei Prokofiev, with soloist Jiazhi Wang.

William’s Broadway credits include Annie Get Your Gun, 42^nd Street, Gypsy, The King and I, Oliver!, Porgy and Bess, Shenandoah, Show Boat, and The Sound of Music.

He has appeared on the following recordings: La Habana: Rio Conexion by Paquito d’Rivera; Level II by Blackstreet; Live in Concert 2006 by Barbra Streisand; MTV Unplugged by Korn, On My Way to You: Songs of Alan and Marilyn Bergman by Leslie Uggams, and Xenakis Complete Vol. 2—Ianissimo! by the ST-X Ensemble.

He performs here with Shirley Ritenour on “Over the Rainbow”…

Sources:

Ellison, William

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