The Story of a Preacher’s Kid

Jacksonville-based keyboardist and composer Elisha Atlas Parris started playing keyboard when he was 12 years old. From a musical and spiritual family, his musicianship was strongly influenced by both his father(pastor/trombonist) and his mother (piano teacher/church musician). In that spiritually and improvisationally free environment, Elisha developed his distinctive style of keyboard performance. Atlas has been afforded the opportunity to play as a bandleader and sideman for jazz festivals and lounges across the country including the Jacksonville Jazz Festival.