Ellen Pieroni & The Encyclopedia of Soul  

Friday, August 25th - 8:15 pm - 9:45 pm
Center Street Stage Presented by 

Ellen Pieroni is a seasoned sax player, multi-instrumentalist, music educator + promoter. She has been playing the saxophone since she was 8 years old, and has been a sidewoman in a multitude of bands for about a decade. Pieroni has contributed to many projects over the years,

Her current project – Ellen Pieroni & the Encyclopedia of Soul (EoS) – presents a refreshing brand of smooth-infused soul jazz. Although the group is inspired by artists such as Grover Washington Jr., Freddie Hubbard, King Curtis, and the Crusaders, EoS puts an emphasis on new original music.

Sparked by a collaboration between Pieroni, Adam Bronstein (guitar) and James Benders (bass) over their mutual love of the band Stuff, the Encyclopedia of Soul was formed in a basement in February of 2022. The trio worked through the rough drafts of Pieroni’s original compositions and found a sound that was uniquely their own. In April of 2022, the trio connected with what is now the band’s current lineup with the addition of Tyler James (keys) and Isaiah Gethers (drums).

The band worked hard in 2022, playing shows all over town and several “live rehearsal” residencies that resulted in an undeniable musical chemistry between the musicians. The sound is driven by thoughtful improvisation from all members over deep pocket grooves. Pieroni recorded her debut album – The Encyclopedia of Soul, Vol. I – with EoS in December 2022. The album is set to release 3/31/2023. Pieroni has plans for many festival and tour dates in 2023 with EoS, and is already working on her next album.