Sunday Mix: JJJJJerome Ellis

Today’s Sunday Mix comes from multi-disciplinary artist JJJJJerome Ellis in the form of excerpts from their book Aster of Ceremonies.

Within his work, the Virginia-based artist explores their history, ancestral connection and stutter using ambient soundscapes, jazz and spoken word. Across their expansive mediums, Ellis draws on poetry, theatre and music to share sacred and striking expressions of interconnected experiences across themes of Blackness, disabled speech, divinity, nature and temporality. All of which has, very deservedly, earned him recognition as a singular storyteller.

“This mix contains Intro to Benediction and Benediction, Movement 1 from the audiobook Aster of Ceremonies”, Ellis says, referring to their poetry book which was published via Milkweed Editions last year. “Benediction is a part of the book where I meditate, through poetry and music, on lineages of Black and stuttering life” they add.

Featuring Ellis reading their work along with instrumental interludes and personal stories, this mix provides an insight into Ellis’ artistic work and makes for captivatingly contemplative Sunday listening.