[2] During the 1990s in New Orleans he studied with Ellis Marsalis and performed with Brian Blade and Nicholas Payton.
[2] He received a music degree from the New School in New York City and won second place in the 2002 Thelonius Monk Institute of Jazz International Saxophone Competition.
[3] With playwright Andy Bragen Ellis composed the theatrical works Dreamscapes, The Ice Siren, and Mobro.
[2] Ellis has worked with The Holmes Brothers, Charlie Hunter, John Patitucci, Lonnie Smith, Sting, Helen Sung, and Miguel Zenón.
[2] With Charlie Hunter With Anne Mette Iversen With Kat Edmonson With Kendrick Scott With Ben Sidran With Lonnie Smith With others