Join Jim Ellis with The Hourglass Band, the powerhouse players who brought his last two EPs to life at Hourglass Studios in Wilmington, NC:
Jim Ellis (piano)
Alex Lanier (guitar)
Brian Mason (drums)
Randy McQuay (guitar)
Jason Moore (bass)
This is the official CD Release Party, but more than that, it’s a full-band celebration of the music so far, with a look ahead to a third EP hoping to be out by showtime.
Kick back and relax with the music of Jim Ellis. Based in coastal North Carolina, Jim’s music blends folk, rock, pop, and country with a laid-back vibe that feels like a perfect day by the water. Inspired by songwriting greats like Jackson Browne and James Taylor, his tunes pair warm, conversational lyrics with melodies that linger. On piano, Jim is often described as a “New Orleans Bruce Hornsby” with a touch of blues, giving his live shows a joyful lift.
Jim has been writing, performing, and recording for over four decades. His band Waterline earned acclaim with their second album Long Goners, featuring a standout rhythm section led by Sonny Landreth and The Goners, the band known for backing John Hiatt. Landreth’s iconic slide work, heard with artists like Jimmy Buffett and Dolly Parton, helped shape the album’s rootsy, open-road sound.
As a solo artist, Jim continues to lean into the kind of storytelling that feels personal but universal. His 4-song EP Lucky Enough is a breezy, gratitude-soaked collection about love, simple pleasures, and finding peace in the life right in front of you. More recently, he followed it with Can’t Keep Quiet Today, a piano-driven EP steeped in second line rhythm and New Orleans color.
Jim’s collaborative spirit has made him a valued studio partner and bandmate. Over the years, he has contributed piano, harmonies, songwriting, and production to projects spanning Americana, blues, and contemporary country, always bringing a sharp ear for arrangement and a steady focus on the emotional core of a song.
For fans of: Jackson Browne, James Taylor, Bruce Hornsby, Jimmy Buffett, and songs that taste like salt air and sunshine.
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