Greg Ellis

Greg grew up in Los Gatos, California. As early as he can remember, he was immersed in the sounds of the Bay Area - from the Monterey Jazz Festival to the ethnic sounds in Santa Cruz, to the consistently eclectic San Francisco music scene, he absorbed the diverse blend of musical styles. His musical journey began with trumpet at age 9. Drums became his sole passion after receiving his first set of drums at age 12, teaching himself by playing along to records. He moved to Los Angeles in 1984 and began ten years of touring and recording as a sideman. During his travels, he also began collecting percussion instruments from around the world. As he became familiar with these instruments, he was particularly interested in their melodic and tonal capabilities. He could finally use drums to compose his own music, and continue his deepening interest in exploring the true power of rhythm. Greg eventually set up his own studio and began composing and producing not only his own material, but also music for film and television. He discovered how important it is to record in real time, without the artifice of looping or sequencing - a rare approach in today's musical landscape. He realized this was the only way to truly tap into the devotional spirit of music in which so many of his influences were deeply rooted. This approach laid the foundation for his work with Vas.