Our Story

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Backed by brothers Devin and Ben Ellman, and fronted by Jack Dunker, this Kansas City based trio, aptly named "Jack Dunker and the Ellman Bros." is defining a unique sound that the young musicians are working to spread across the Midwest and beyond. 

The group met as students at the Kansas City Jazz Academy and also performed in larger jazz ensembles and recitals across the Kansas City region. But Jack's interest was always in singer/songwriters, influenced by the work of Ryan Bingham, Jason Isbell, Tyler Childers and Evan Felker of Turnpike Troubadors, along with the classic outlaw country sound of Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash. He started seeking out solo gigs close to home, playing country music at bars, breweries and coffee houses. He also cut a four song EP released to streaming platforms in the summer of 2024. When opportunities to play on larger stages began to present themselves later that year, Jack reached out to Ben and Devin and the trio began practicing in preparation for 2025.

Their experience playing jazz together led to an immediate chemistry perfoming country music as well. The Ellman boys elevated the project to a higher level of musicianship with Devin's skill showcased on bass and Ben's proficiency behind the drum kit. The brothers' musical capacity combined with Jack's talent on guitar took the original songs he wrote to another level. Undertones from the band's origin find their way into the band's performances with defined bass lines, intentional timing and drum fills - defining their sound as a fresh and exciting - and giving birth to their contribution to the music scene with a self-proclained "Funk'd Up Country" sound.

Jack Dunker and The Ellman Bros. signed with Smokeshow Entertainment for full-service management and booking in January 2025 and looks forward to performances throughout the west, midwest this summer, and then south, when Jack heads to college at Oklahoma State University this fall.