| Whimsical and creative describes John Ellis & | | | | listener into a feeling of fear and bewilderment. John's |
| Double-Wide - Puppet Mischief, which uses the band's | | | | use of the tenor saxophone layered over the |
| New Orleans musicianship to turn memories from | | | | sousaphone and heart pounding drum beat |
| John's childhood experiences in to an innovative sound. | | | | complemented by the organ interludes builds to a fitting |
| Puppet Mischief: Okra & Tomatoes; Fauxfessor; | | | | crescendo. Now that Double-Wide has garnered your |
| Dewey Dah; Puppet Mischief; Carousel; Dubinland | | | | attention they roll into the title track Puppet Mischief, |
| Carnival; Chorale; Héroes De Acción; This Too | | | | and mischief is what they create with a bit of mockery |
| Shall Pass | | | | mixed in with a bit of silliness encapsulated by Gregoire |
| Personnel: John Ellis: Tenor Saxophone, Bass Clarinet; | | | | Maret's superb harmonica work. |
| Jason Marsalis: Drums; Matt Perrine: Sousaphone; Brian | | | | The track Carousel draws its influence from the |
| Coogan: Organ; Gregoire Maret: Harmonica; Alan | | | | sounds of the Midway and the music that drew |
| Ferber: Trombone | | | | crowds to the shows, games, and rides. He plays with |
| John Ellis & Double-Wide - Puppet Mischief was | | | | the listener creating a feeling of amazement and |
| produced by John Ellis and released on the Obliq | | | | astonishment against a blues backdrop. He transitions |
| Sound label; this marks the second release of John Ellis | | | | to the track Dubinland Carnival that draws a similarity |
| with Double-Wide. Puppet Mischief layers in John's | | | | to that of the barker calling out the next show, "hurry, |
| New Orleans music influence with his childhood | | | | hurry, step right up, get your ticket the show is about |
| experiences of carnivals, state fairs, and clowns to | | | | to begin." A soliloquy of drum and saxophone |
| create an assemblage of music that will have you | | | | passages produces confusion and worry against a |
| smiling, laughing, and from time-to-time scratching your | | | | backdrop of wonder. |
| head. | | | | The release also includes the tracks: Chorale, which is |
| John's arrangements utilizing the inimitable sounds of a | | | | a short beautiful cut that features the horns; Héroes |
| sousaphone, organ, bass clarinet, harmonica, and | | | | De Acción, a fantasy song that John wrote as a |
| trombone are festive, fanciful, imaginative, and artistic. | | | | soundtrack for an imaginary Spanish cartoon |
| The opening track, Okra & Tomatoes is a play on life's | | | | crime-fighting hero, and he truly captures the elements |
| perfect pairings and opens with a howling horn section | | | | of a Latin hero jumping into and out of danger; and the |
| that is like the siren of the Big Top beckoning you to | | | | last track, This Too Shall Pass opens with the sobering |
| step-right-up and come-on-in the show is just about to | | | | sound of the sousaphone calming your nerves after a |
| begin. Opening the door to a world where reality has | | | | fun filled, frantic, exciting, and rewarding day under the |
| taken a break, the band jazzes up the middle sections | | | | Big Top with John Ellis & Double-Wide. |
| and gets the crowd warmed up for the ensuing tracks. | | | | Websites where you can procure John Ellis & |
| The track Fauxfessor is a frolic New Orleans style | | | | Double-Wide - Puppet Mischief are John Axson Ellis, |
| where every turn provides a new musical adventure. | | | | Play, Obliq Sound, Real Music Store, and Amazon. |
| Dewey Dah is a melancholic track that coerces the | | | | |