Marv Ellis : Soulful, honest hip hop with a live band, weekly at White Eagle in December

Article by Chris Young
























Oregon Music News

by Chris Young on December 1, 2009

Marv Ellis is all over the NW barking hip-hop, soul fusion backed by syncopated, electric guitars and elegant R&B divas.

Ellis can make heads bob with the best of them, dropping repetitive, scratched samples over beats with rhythm and flow, but what makes Ellis stand out is a hint of Latin here, some funk there, and always a horn or sax, or both. Live drums, a piano, and a soulful lady singing back up.

Performing with his four-piece band The Platform, Ellis drops smooth, catchy rhymes over drums from Edwin Coleman III (Lazoo, Soul Vaccination), percussion by Ishi Woods (Abakadubi, Imaginary Friends), keys from Reeble Jar’s Josh Koffee, and Jay Haser on bass.

The live five play hours of original music and bring a flavor and energy reminiscent of Ozomatli (whom Ellis has shared the stage with before) with Ellis flowing poetry, sometimes in Spanish and singing his own hooks when not backed by soul/blues acts like Acoustic Minds.

Ellis is a lyricist spouting positive messages amongst uplifting beats, known for his yearly spoken word performances at the Oregon County Fair and inspiring youth through public speaking at schools across the state. His backing with Imaginary Friends even includes a string section.

Ellis splits his time between Portland and Eugene and, honestly, everywhere else on the west coast from Oakland and San Francisco to Bend to Seattle. Working hard, he’s performed over 100 shows this year while recording a self-produced, soon-to-be released album, his fifth, Mental Picture Machine.

At times his rapid yet relaxed flow shows shades of Eminem-a tranquilized, calm Eminem who righteously raps about being nice and social consciousness rather than pillaging his ex-wife and roofies. Dialing in and snapping back to back to back rhymes, Ellis creates an audial atmosphere coupled with worldly beats, horns, drums and keys.

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About the Author

Chris Young is a contributor to Oregon Music News












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