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Ethan Philion

Ethan Philion is a Chicago double bassist, composer, arranger, bandleader, and educator whose projects range from Mingus repertory to quartets.

Double bassComposerArrangerBandleader6 current shows

Photo source · Official artist media

Career Overview

About Ethan Philion

Philion's official biography identifies him as a Chicago-based bassist, composer, and bandleader educated at Oberlin Conservatory and DePaul University. It connects his local work to performances with Chicago musicians and to competition, fellowship, and teaching activity.[1]

His leader catalog begins with the ten-piece Meditations on Mingus and shifts to a quartet with Greg Ward, Russ Johnson, and Dana Hall for Gnosis. Philion also works in Love Call, a free-improvising trio with Max Bessesen and Devin Drobka, and appears on Johnson's chordless-quartet album Reveal.[2][6][5]

Ensembles and Career Threads

Bands & Projects

Leader, bassist, and arranger

Meditations on Mingus ensemble

Philion arranged a program of Mingus compositions for a ten-piece Chicago ensemble, balancing orchestrated passages with space for individual and group improvisation.[3]

Leader, bassist, and composer

Ethan Philion Quartet

Gnosis places Philion's original music and one Mingus interpretation in a quartet with Greg Ward, Russ Johnson, and Dana Hall.[4]

Co-leader, bassist, and composer

Love Call

The collaborative trio with Max Bessesen and Devin Drobka combines free improvisation with compositions contributed by all three members.[6]

Selected, Not Exhaustive

Recordings to Know

2022

Meditations on Mingus

Leader, bassist, and arranger

The debut leader album reworks eight Mingus compositions for a ten-piece ensemble with detailed personnel and arrangement notes.[3]

Release details

2023

Gnosis

Quartet leader, bassist, and composer

Philion's second leader album pares the ensemble to alto saxophone, trumpet, bass, and drums and emphasizes his original writing.[4]

Release details

2023 · Calligram Records

Reveal

Bassist in the Russ Johnson quartet

Russ Johnson's chordless quartet pairs Philion and drummer Timothy Daisy with trumpet and Mark Feldman's violin.[5]

Release details

Artist-Authorized Destinations

Start Listening

Official Bandcamp

Hear Philion's two leader albums in full with personnel, arrangement, composition, and recording notes.

Official music page

Browse album audio, extended project notes, and artist-curated video on Philion's site.

Live Calendar

Upcoming Jazz DateBook Shows

Wed, Aug 26, 8:00 PM

ALFONSO PONTICELLI

Green Mill · Chicago

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Sat, Aug 29, 7:30 PM

Arman Sangalang Quartet

Berlin · Minneapolis

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Wed, Sep 2, 8:00 PM

ALFONSO PONTICELLI

Green Mill · Chicago

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Wed, Sep 9, 8:00 PM

ALFONSO PONTICELLI

Green Mill · Chicago

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Wed, Sep 16, 8:00 PM

ALFONSO PONTICELLI

Green Mill · Chicago

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Wed, Sep 23, 8:00 PM

ALFONSO PONTICELLI

Green Mill · Chicago

Show details

Sources

Career copy is original synthesis from the artist, label, and project sources below. Current dates come from Jazz DateBook event inventory.

  1. [1] Official biography

    Ethan Philion

  2. [2] Official music and project guide

    Ethan Philion

  3. [3] Meditations on Mingus audio and ensemble notes

    Ethan Philion

  4. [4] Gnosis audio and quartet notes

    Ethan Philion

  5. [5] Reveal audio and quartet personnel

    Russ Johnson

  6. [6] Official Love Call trio guide

    Ethan Philion