As musical director for the bands behind Mr. Brown and also Van Morrison, Mr. Ellis helped forge new hybrids, meshing pop, jazz, R&B and more. By Jon Pareles Alfred (Pee Wee) Ellis, a saxophonist, ...

If there was a Mount Funkmore for the greatest funk bassists, Marcus Miller’s face and trademark porkpie hat would be sculpted into that musical monument. Miller honed his musical chops during funk’s ...