Herb Ellis, RIP

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 29 Mar 2010 1:26 pm

So sorry to be the bearer of this news, but word has come that jazz guitar great, Herb Ellis has passed. He would have been 89 this August. He had been retired for over a decade, and was suffering from Alzheimer's. RIP, Mr. Ellis and thank you for the gift of your music.

Mitch Drumm · Post by **Mitch Drumm** » 29 Mar 2010 1:51 pm

Not good.

I guess this kind of thing never stops when you are of a certain age. I get bad news pretty much every time I look in this section.

I was just looking over a bunch of Herb's LP and CD titles earlier today, not knowing.

I also read earlier today that Johnny Smith is still alive in Colorado Springs and apparently hasn't played in decades.

Craig A Davidson · Post by **Craig A Davidson** » 29 Mar 2010 2:55 pm

Herb Ellis and Joe Pass were the first two jazz names I was ever acquainted with.

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 29 Mar 2010 4:16 pm

Ouch, it is painful looking in here. Not a lot of this generation of jazz guitarists left. RIP Herb.

Darvin Willhoite · Post by **Darvin Willhoite** » 29 Mar 2010 5:26 pm

Like Craig, Herb and Joe were two of my favorite Jazz guitarists, along with Howard Roberts, Barney Kessel, Tal Farlow, George VanEpps, and Johnny Smith. I haven't heard very many modern players that could hold a candle to these guys. Sad news. I guess Johnny is the only one of this group left and he is in his upper 80's.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 29 Mar 2010 5:42 pm

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postmo ... -dies.html

Be sure to check out the embedded YouTube videos.

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 29 Mar 2010 5:46 pm

Jim Hall is still around, and unlike Johnny Smith, still playing and making great recordings.

David Coplin · Post by **David Coplin** » 29 Mar 2010 5:53 pm

Like the rest of you guys, I hate to open this part of the forum. Sad news indeed Jim. Darvin, you ran through a list of all my favorites. At least we have their records, CD's, and utubes. Thanks for the great music all these years Herb. RIP.

Jody Sanders · Post by **Jody Sanders** » 29 Mar 2010 6:45 pm

So sorry to hear this, Jim. Herb Ellis was the first jazz player that I always listened to. His picking and chord voicings were incredible. A great loss to the music industry. Jody.

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 29 Mar 2010 7:00 pm

Another great stylist gone. RIP.

Rick Schmidt · Post by **Rick Schmidt** » 30 Mar 2010 5:57 am

Heavy sigh...RIP Herb

George Keoki Lake · Post by **George Keoki Lake** » 30 Mar 2010 7:10 am

Herb Ellis ... an awesome guitarist who, unlike many of the younger generation, never used screaming distortion pedal effects. His playing always reflected taste and respect for his instrument. Man, he was amongst the very BEST and will be sorely missed ! (Excuse the tears).

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 30 Mar 2010 12:33 pm

Just about the de facto house guitarist for Verve in the 50s. A powerhouse on the guitar and one of the hardest swingers ever on 6 strings. While I prefer Barney Kessel's playing, I bow at the waist to Herb; he was a legend.

Tony Glassman · Post by **Tony Glassman** » 30 Mar 2010 1:10 pm

Tremendous loss. He could play complex chord arrangements as well as, soulful blues. Funny, I was just listening to him the other day on the Lou Rawls "Live" album. He and Tommy Strode were great together.

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 30 Mar 2010 6:58 pm

When I moved to L.A. in the mid 70s I had the great pleasure to be able to go down to Dante's and the Baked Potato and see Herb,Joe Pass,Lenny Breau,Joe Diorio,Barney Kessel,Al Viola and lots of other great players from that generation on a weekly basis. Them days are gone I'm afraid.

Mitch Drumm · Post by **Mitch Drumm** » 31 Mar 2010 4:33 am

Herb Ellis Dies at 88; Jazz Guitarist

by Keith Thursby
Los Angeles Times, March 31, 2010

Herb Ellis, a jazz guitarist perhaps best known for his work with the influential Oscar Peterson Trio, has died. He was 88.

Ellis, who had Alzheimer's disease, died Sunday morning at his home in Los Angeles, said his son, Mitch.

During his long and varied career, Ellis played with Jimmy Dorsey and Ella Fitzgerald. He also worked as a studio musician and played in the bands of several television shows, including Steve Allen's and Merv Griffin's.

"There have been changes in jazz and new styles come along. I play straight ahead -- what you might call mainstream jazz," Ellis told the Columbus Dispatch of Ohio in 1996. "That's what I played when I started and that's what I still play. I wish everyone else good luck and God bless, but I've found mine and I'm going to stick with it."

He was playing with two other former members of Dorsey's band, pianist Lou Carter and bassist John Frigo, in the drummer-less trio Soft Winds in 1952 when Peterson saw the group in concert in Buffalo, N.Y.

"He liked it. So he and I went out later that night and jammed at some place in Buffalo," Ellis told The Times in 1993. "I didn't see him again until 1953 when [guitarist] Barney Kessel left his group. That's when he called me for the job."

The combination of pianist Peterson, bassist Ray Brown and Ellis created "one of the most celebrated jazz trios in history," according to "The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz" (1999) by Leonard Feather and Ira Gitler.

Mitchell Herbert Ellis was born Aug. 4, 1921, in Farmersville, Texas. He attended North Texas State for two years, but had to drop out for financial reasons, his son said.

He joined the Casa Loma Orchestra in 1944, then toured with Dorsey from 1945 to 1948 before forming Soft Winds with Carter and Frigo.

"We didn't hear things in terms of having a drummer," Ellis explained in a 1993 Times article, "but it worked well."

He played with Peterson and Brown from 1953-58 and reunited years later.

"That time was very special to all of them," Mitch Ellis said. "He and Ray roomed together; they were really best friends."

But the work was demanding with "hours and hours of practicing," Mitch Ellis said. "When they got back together in the '80s it was a lot more fun, a lot more relaxed."

In addition to his relationship with the Peterson trio, Mitch Ellis said his father was proud of his work beginning in the 1970s with guitarist Joe Pass. "It meant a great deal to him... they formed this real connection," he said.

Ellis also toured with the Great Guitars, which included Kessel and Charlie Byrd.

In addition to his son, Ellis is survived by his wife of 53 years, Patti; a daughter, Kari Ellis Yedor; and three grandchildren.

A memorial will be held April 30 at a location to be determined, Mitch Ellis said.

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 31 Mar 2010 8:19 am

Sad to hear this. One of the greats.

Lucky enough to gig with him in the 80s. Nicest guy you would ever want to meet! RIP Herb.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 31 Mar 2010 8:45 am

Michael Johnstone wrote:When I moved to L.A. in the mid 70s I had the great pleasure to be able to go down to Dante's and the Baked Potato and see Herb,Joe Pass,Lenny Breau,Joe Diorio,Barney Kessel,Al Viola and lots of other great players from that generation on a weekly basis. Them days are gone I'm afraid.

Man, I sure hope Joe Diorio gets back to playing soon. Absolutely one of the greats, as little known as he is.

Morgan Scoggins · Post by **Morgan Scoggins** » 31 Mar 2010 2:11 pm

I met Herb Ellis back in about 1978 when I lived in Orlando, Fl. He was in town doing a gig at Disney World. He came to a local music store to do a free guitar clinic and promote his new line of guitars. I sat through the clinic and got a world of information about playing techniques, chord progressions, chord substitutons and listened to a lot of great stories and some cool playing.
He was a real gentelman and answered all questions, and man could he play!!!. He was from the old school where he learned everything by ear( no tab or BIAB).
R.I.P. Herb Ellis.

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 31 Mar 2010 2:43 pm

Morgan Scoggins wrote: He was from the old school where he learned everything by ear( no tab or BIAB).

I bet he could read music.

Joshua Grange · Post by **Joshua Grange** » 1 Apr 2010 7:49 am

Lift your heavy hearts!
A life to be celebrated.

Steve Raulston · Post by **Steve Raulston** » 4 Apr 2010 10:22 am

You are sorely missed Herb. RIP

Joe McHam · Post by **Joe McHam** » 5 Apr 2010 3:58 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TL9HPYu0NKs
Enjoy!!!

Michael Breid · Post by **Michael Breid** » 11 Apr 2010 1:26 pm

Herb was the first to get me interested in playing jazz guitar back in the sixties with his Midnight Roll LP. In the eighties I used to attend his guitar clinics in Harrison, Arkansas when Herb lived at Fairfield Bay, Arkansas. I really loved his "straight ahead" playing. He was sort of my mentor. I told him once, "I would love to learn to play jazz guitar, but I play country now". Herb replied, "There's nothing wrong with country music. That's what I started playing in Texas". I bought his video and a bunch of his albums, both LP and CD as well as videos he did with Barney Kessel and Charlie Byrd. He was a great guy to know. His version of Seven Come Eleven with Joe Pass is a classic. I'll miss you my friend. Godspeed on your new journey. Sincerest condolences to Patti and family. The great ones are leaving us. If you have a chance to see them live, do it before it's too late.