E.M.P. Project:
William Ellis - drums
Joseph Patrick Moore - double, electric & fretless bass
Shawn Perkinson - acoustic & electric guitar
William Ellis - drums
Joseph Patrick Moore - double, electric & fretless bass
Shawn Perkinson - acoustic & electric guitar
E.M.P. Project is an all original jazz trio originally from the Southern United States. Ellis, Moore and Perkinson first met while attending the University of Tennessee in Knoxville between the years of 1989-1994. They each studied privately with music educator’s Jerry Coker (Pat Methany, Jaco Pastorius, Randy Brecker), Donald Brown (Art Blakey, Freddie Hubbard), Rusty Holloway (Woody Herman), Mark Boling (Billy Higgins, TS Monk), Keith Brown (Mose Allison, Tommy Flannigan) and many other important teachers and mentors.
While attending U.T.K., they would regularly play together in a variety of settings. Upon graduating, their opportunities and talents would lead each of them to different parts of the United States and abroad. While they would keep in touch, they wouldn’t play together again for many years, until 2003. Nearly a decade later, and without any rehearsals, their debut self-titled recording is the first documentation of their special chemistry together. Recorded on August 6th & 7th 2002 in Atlanta, GA, their debut CD captures the magic and spontaneity of these gifted young artist’s. E.M.P. Project is truly a collective effort. Each member wrote original material and participated in the overall production of this recording. In 2005, they followed up their debut recording with their sophomore release, "Wherever We Go".
In 2026, they released "Best of EMP Project". Bringing together a powerful blend of modern jazz, fusion, groove, and improvisational interplay, Best of EMP Project revisits standout recordings originally captured between 2002 and 2005. These selections, drawn from the group’s debut EMP Project and sophomore release Wherever We Go, have been carefully remastered to introduce the trio’s music to a new generation of listeners.
Best of EMP Project serves as both a retrospective and a reintroduction—highlighting a trio whose musical roots run deep, and whose sound remains timeless, exploratory, and deeply connected.
While attending U.T.K., they would regularly play together in a variety of settings. Upon graduating, their opportunities and talents would lead each of them to different parts of the United States and abroad. While they would keep in touch, they wouldn’t play together again for many years, until 2003. Nearly a decade later, and without any rehearsals, their debut self-titled recording is the first documentation of their special chemistry together. Recorded on August 6th & 7th 2002 in Atlanta, GA, their debut CD captures the magic and spontaneity of these gifted young artist’s. E.M.P. Project is truly a collective effort. Each member wrote original material and participated in the overall production of this recording. In 2005, they followed up their debut recording with their sophomore release, "Wherever We Go".
In 2026, they released "Best of EMP Project". Bringing together a powerful blend of modern jazz, fusion, groove, and improvisational interplay, Best of EMP Project revisits standout recordings originally captured between 2002 and 2005. These selections, drawn from the group’s debut EMP Project and sophomore release Wherever We Go, have been carefully remastered to introduce the trio’s music to a new generation of listeners.
Best of EMP Project serves as both a retrospective and a reintroduction—highlighting a trio whose musical roots run deep, and whose sound remains timeless, exploratory, and deeply connected.
