Ellen Rowe Quartet

Biography

Ellen Rowe, born November 11, 1958, in Norwalk, CT, and raised in Ridgefield, CT, grew up in a musical family with both parents trained at the Juilliard School of Music. She developed her skills as a jazz pianist, composer, and educator, releasing albums under her own name including Sylvan Way, Wishing Well, Denali Pass, Courage Music, and Momentum – Portraits of Women In Motion (2019), which featured Ingrid Jensen, Tia Fuller, Marion Hayden, and Allison Miller. Her latest project, Vinton's Cove (released November 21, 2025), showcases original compositions and arrangements performed by her quartet with guest vocalist Sunny Wilkinson[1][2][3][9].

Rowe has built a distinguished career in jazz, performing at clubs and festivals across the U.S. and internationally in Europe, South Africa, Australia, and Brazil, while serving as a sideman with artists like Kenny Wheeler, Tim Ries, Tom Harrell, John Clayton, Ingrid Jensen, and Steve Turre. She appeared on Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz on NPR and has toured with her trio, quartet, and quintet. Prior to her current role as Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Jazz and Contemporary Improvisation at the University of Michigan's School of Music, Theatre & Dance, she was Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Connecticut[1][2][7].

As a composer and arranger, Rowe's works have been performed by ensembles like the Village Vanguard Orchestra, BBC Jazz Orchestra, U.S. Navy Commodores, Berlin and NDR Radio Jazz Orchestras, London Symphony, DIVA, and Perth Jazz Orchestra, appearing on recordings such as Leave It To DIVA and I Believe In You (DIVA). Her big band compositions are published by Sierra Music Publications, Doug Beach Music, Brava Music, and Excelcia Music. An active clinician and conductor, she has led NAfME All-Eastern and All-Northwest Jazz Ensembles, served as composer-in-residence at institutions like Eastman School of Music, and coordinates the JEN Sisters In Jazz Collegiate Combo Competition[1][2].

Fun Facts

• Rowe plays a 1905 rebuilt Steinway piano that has been in her family since the mid-1940s, capturing her warm, singing touch on Vinton's Cove[3][4].
• She won the Hartford, CT Advocate Readers’ Poll for Best Acoustic Jazz[1].
• Vinton's Cove was inspired by a Maine cabin, with several pieces written there as 'balm for wounded souls' during challenging times[3].
• Pete Siers has appeared on all but one of Rowe's previous albums, representing a long-standing musical partnership[3].

Musical Connections

Key Collaborators

• Mike Sakash - soprano and alto saxophone in Ellen Rowe Quartet (Vinton's Cove) [past five years]
• Dennis Carroll - bass in Ellen Rowe Quartet (Vinton's Cove) [recent]
• Pete Siers - drums in Ellen Rowe Quartet, long-standing partner (Vinton's Cove and all but one previous album) [multiple albums]
• Sunny Wilkinson - guest vocalist (Vinton's Cove) [2025]
• Ingrid Jensen - trumpeter on quintet and Momentum project (Courage Music, Momentum – Portraits of Women In Motion) [2010s-2019]
• Tia Fuller - featured on Momentum project (Momentum – Portraits of Women In Motion) [2019]
• Marion Hayden - featured on Momentum project (Momentum – Portraits of Women In Motion) [2019]
• Allison Miller - featured on Momentum project (Momentum – Portraits of Women In Motion) [2019]
• Kenny Wheeler - sideman performances (various live performances) [career]
• Tim Ries - sideman performances (various live performances) [career]
• Tom Harrell - sideman performances (various live performances) [career]
• John Clayton - sideman performances (various live performances) [career]
• Steve Turre - sideman performances (various live performances) [career]

External Links

• Spotify