Manty Ellis Community Foundation, founded by Milwaukee's “ Jazz Godfather”, Manty Ellis, is making exciting progress to revitalize the Jazz community in the Milwaukee area. The MECF mission and goals has three basic tenets; community involvement, broader jazz education, and creating opportunities for young musicians to hone their skills with professionals. 

MECF has assembled the largest collective of accomplished Jazz musicians, tapping into the lexicon of former Manty Ellis students, regional musicians and Milwaukee’s Jazz community. 

Artistic Director Jesse Catalino Montijo, with an impressive musical family pedigree and incredible Jazz lineage, emphasizes MECF’s mission to revitalize Milwaukee’s rich Jazz history, including the Wissconsin Conservatory of Music, Jazz Foundation of America and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation honoring Jazz Legacy Fellow and Milwaukee native, Manty Ellis. 

MECF works with community youth involvement rekindling the long-held jazz traditions of young players learning from seasoned professionals. MECF will provide opportunities for young musicians to experience Jazz from the roots, learn from the masters, and play free with abandonment, creating the way for the Jazz mentors of the next generation.

The MECF plan enables live music opportunities matching young players and students, with professionals. This plan rekindles the long traditions of Jazz culture and revitalizes the legendary curriculum of Manty Ellis.