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Ellen, Gene and Jean
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The magic of music is found in the collaboration, inspiration, and chemistry between the players and the audience. With that in mind, three time Grammy nominated singer, songwriter and guitarist Ellen Whyte has partnered with premier Portland-based musicians Gene Houck (bass & vocals) and Jean-Pierre Garau (piano & vocals) to form Ellen, Gene & Jean. “With three strong vocalist/musicians,” says Whyte, “the opportunities are endless, challenging and extremely rewarding.”
Loaded with serious musical talent, Ellen, Gene, and Jean covers a wide range of styles, from blues to jazz standards to some infectious, gospel-influenced, R&B. The trio features world-class musicianship with lush, rich vocal harmonies. Its repertoire ranges from intimate ballads to funky blues and R&B. Standards such as “Come Rain or Come Shine,” “I'll Be Your Baby Tonight,” and “Love Song,” as well as some of Ellen's original compositions, can be found on the their newly released EP, “Take One.”
Said The Oregonian, “A veteran musician in our thriving scene, Ellen Whyte has corralled some of the city's better bands in various combinations throughout the years, and continues to hone her sizable skills. With talent like Whyte's, the blues in Portland is in good hands.”
Whyte's fourth album, 2009's Four Way Stop, (which Houck and Garau played on) was a soaring achievement from an accomplished singer songwriter, receiving rave reviews and a Grammy Award nomination.
Gene Houck has been a professional bassist and singer for over 30 years and has toured with such national recording artists as Maria Muldaur, blues guitarist Roy Rogers, and the late harmonica virtuoso Norton Buffalo. For the past eight years he has owned the bass guitar chair in popular R&B/funk/pop Patrick Lamb Band. Known for his strong and soulful vocals, he's performed on such national advertising spots as Budweiser and Taco Bell. San Francisco Chronicle music critic Joel Selvin wrote, “With a voice that simultaneously reminds you of Stevie Winwood and Michael McDonald, it is no mystery why vocalist Gene Houck is a first call session singer.”
Jean-Pierre Garau, a native of Laguna Beach, Calif., relocated to the island of Maui before touching down in Portland. An active player in the Rose City scene, Garau has performed as a soloist and with many acts in a long career, including concerts with rock violinist Aaron Meyer, Cloverdayle, guitarist Tim Ellis, the South Lake Church Band, and other regional singer/songwriters. An in-demand session player, he's contributed keyboards on a host of album projects, documentaries, regional and national TV and radio spots, and industrial films.
Ellen, Gene & Jean deliver a powerful sound… soothing to the ears and the soul.
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