” a happy discovery of a promising future.”
“…a { } musician with a burning desire to experience everything: pleasure is found in the act of playing.”
– QwestTV
“Like Sonny Rollins, the saxophonist maintains a strong rhythmic sensibility, even as his improvisations flow red-hot.”
“…..he testifies with apocalyptic fervor.”
-JAZZIZ
” Melton,{ } floored me”.
– Plastic Sax
“…a widely respected tenor saxophonist and composer, …young and rising talent”
–Johnson County Library
Find out more about his newest studio release HERE.
“The Time of the Slave Is Over”
Ernest Melton – The Saxophonist
Ernest Melton is known for having a captivating, abstract, and dynamic approach to the saxophone. At his first attempt, in elementary school, the band director gave him an alto sax. He switched to tenor saxophone in middle school and developed an attraction to the tone and the technical challenge it presented.
In high school, the wind ensemble gave him a baritone saxophone. While learning classical solos he came across the music of John Coltrane. The albums from Coltrane’s later years (Transition, A Love Supreme) inspired him to study jazz. So he joined the school’s jazz ensemble as well as other local youth groups. His interest in jazz led him to take on the tenor as his main instrument and hence, purchase his first saxophone. After leaving school and joining different bands in Kansas City, a mentor gave him a soprano.
Ernest currently lends his talents to multiple groups, of all different genres. While featured more often as a soloist, he has become well known for adding that “special something” to many recorded works as well as live performances. His study of the saxophone began at age 10, now only in his early 20’s, he has begun a promising career in music.
Ernest Melton – The Composer and Bandleader
Ernest wrote his first tune at age 16 and began band-leading at age 18. A passionate composer, he leads different groups to bring his sonic imaginations to fruition. So far, he has penned two Eps and one full-length album. Find out more about his newest release here.