The SASSAFRAS QUARTET is a jazz ensemble based in New York City. The group consists of four members: saxophonist and composer John Ellis, bassist Matt Clohesy, drummer Mark Ferber, and pianist Orrin Evans. The quartet has released two albums, 'SASSAFRAS' and 'The Four of Us'. They have performed at numerous festivals and venues around the world, including the Newport Jazz Festival, the Montreal Jazz Festival, and the Kennedy Center. Their music is a mix of jazz, funk, and soul, with influences from Latin, African, and Caribbean music. The word ESSES is an acronym for the first letters of each member's name: Ellis, Clohesy, Ferber, and Evans.