This four CD collection however represents the first phase of Herb Ellis's solo career when he acted as leader or co-leader through an era which is generally considered the great man's glory years. Featuring eight stunning and extraordinary albums released originally between the mid-1950s and mid 1960s, this compilation provides both a perfect starting point for newcomers and a welcome reminder of Herb Ellis's musical prowess and creative flow for everyone else.
[Disc 1]
Ellis In Wonderland (1956)
Alto Saxophone – Charlie Mariano
Bass – Ray Brown
Drums – Alvin Stoller
Guitar – Herb Ellis
Piano – Oscar Peterson
Producer – Norman Granz
Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Clarinet – Jimmy Giuffre
Trumpet – Harry Edison
Recorded December 1955 and January 1956 in Hollywood
01) Sweetheart Blues
02) Somebody Loves Me
03) It Could Happen To You
04) Pogo
05) Detour Ahead
06) Ellis In Wonderland
07) Have You Met Miss Jones
08) A Simple Tune
Nothing But The Blues (1957)
Stan Getz (ts)
Roy Eldridge (tp)
Herb Ellis (g)
Ray Brown (b)
Stan Levey (d).
Hollywood, October 11-12, 1957
09) Pap's Blues
10) Big Red's Boogie Woogie
11) Tin Roof Blues
12) Soft Winds
13) Royal Garden Blues
14) Patti Cake
15) Blues For Janet
16) Blues For Junior
[Disc 2]
Herb Ellis Meets Jimmy Giuffre (1959)
Jimmy Giuffre (ts, bar, arr)
Herb Ellis (g soloist)
Art Pepper
Bud Shank (as)
Richie Kamuca (ts)
Lou Levy (p)
Jim Hall (rhythm g)
Joe Mondragon (b)
Stan Levey (d).
Hollywood, March 26, 1959
01) Goose Grease
02) When Your Lover Has Gone
03) Remember
04) Patricia
05) A Country Boy
06) You Know
07) My Old Flame
08) People Will Say We're In Love
Softly…But With That Feeling (1961)
Herb Ellis (guitar)
Victor Feldman (piano, vibes)
Leroy Vinnegar (bass)
Ronnie Zito (drums)
Recorded in Los Angeles, October 12 & 13, 1961
09) One Note Samba
10) Toni
11) Like Someone In Love
12) Jim's Blues
13) John Brown's Body
14) Detour Ahead
15) You Better Be Ready
16) Gravy Waltz
[Disc 3]
Three Guitars In Bossa Nova Time (1963)
Herb Ellis, John Gray, Laurindo Almeida - g
Bob Neel, Chico Guerrero, Milt Holland - d
Bob Enevoldsen - ts
Donn Trenner - p
Bob Bertaux - b
01) You Stepped Out Of A Dream
02) Bossa Nova #2
03) But Beautiful
04) Bossa Nova Samba
05) Leave It To Me
06) I Told Ya I Love Ya, Now Get Out!
07) Sweet Dreams
08) Low Society Blues
09) Gravy Waltz
10) Detour Ahead
Herb Ellis & Stuff Smith - Together! (1963)
Herb Ellis (guitar)
Stuff Smith (vocals, violin)
Bob Enevoldsen (tenor saxophone, valve trombone)
Lou Levy (piano)
Al McKibbon (bass)
Shelly Manne (drums)
Recorded at Columbia Studios, Hollywood, California on January 8, 1963
01) Skip It
02) Alone Together
03) Blues For Janet
04) How Come You Do Me Like You Do
05) Get Acquainted Blues
06) Hillcrest
[Disc 4]
Andre Previn/Herb Ellis/Shelly Manne/Ray Brown - 4 To Go! (1963)
Bass – Ray Brown
Drums – Shelly Manne
Guitar – Herb Ellis
Piano – André Previn
Recorded Hollywood, California, December 18, 1962
01) No Moon At All
02) Bye Bye Blackbird
03) Life Is A Ball
04) It's Easy To Remember
05) You're Impossible
06) Oh What A Beautiful Morning
07) I Know You Oh So Well
08) Intersection
09) Like Someone In Love
10) Don't Sing Along
Herb Ellis & Charlie Byrd - Guitar/Guitar (1965)
Guitar – Charlie Byrd, Herb Ellis
Bass - Keter Betts
Drums - Buddy Deppenschmidt
Recording Date: August 30, 1963 - August 31, 1963
11) Se Todos Fossem Iquais A Voce
12) Chung King
13) Carolina In The Morning
14) Three Quarter Blues
15) Take Care Of Yourself
16) St. Louis Blues
17) Jazz 'n' Samba
18) Oh, Lady Be Good
19) Things Ain't What They Used To Be
20) A Hundred Years From Today
21) Bluesette
