Roddy Ellias’ music has been described as “unapologetically beautiful” (All About Jazz) and his creativity “both startling and inspiring” (Just Jazz Guitar). A passionate improviser and prolific composer, Canadian jazz guitarist Roddy Ellias is an artist whose work defies simple definition. His musical journey has taken him from his early roots in pop and R&B bands and classical music, to the improvised world of jazz, through African and other world beats all the way to writing an opera, and everything in between. Along the way he’s performed with some of the great names in jazz, from Lee Konitz and David Liebman to Joel Frahm and Dr. Lonny Johnston. In 2013, Roddy was the only Canadian recipient of the Jazz Journalists of America Jazz Hero Award.

Lucas Haneman: